The Persistence of Memory (novel)
The Persistence of Memory is a novel by Tony Eprile. It was published in 2004 by W. W. Norton & Company. The story portrays 1960s and 1970s South Africa through the experiences of Paul Sweetbread, a young Jewish South African with a photographic memory. The novel follows Paul from his experiences in school, through his service in the South African Defence Force during the country's border war, to his participation in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The novel deals heavily with the question of white liberal guilt during the apartheid regime.
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Tony Eprile |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel, history |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
Publication date | June 2004 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 288 pp (first edition, hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-0-393-05888-8 (first edition, hardcover) |
| OCLC | 55671200 |
| 823/.914 22 | |
| LC Class | PR9369.3.E67 P47 2004 |
Reception
The New York Times described the book as "a fascinating picture of white South Africa, an anatomy of the liberal conscience -- both sympathetic and scathing -- that resonates far beyond its immediate setting".[1]
Awards
The Persistence of Memory won the 2005 Koret Jewish Book Award for fiction.
References
- Tait, Theo (8 August 2008). "Truth and Reconciliation". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2008.