BOOKS

AT the time of going to Press, we received copy of this new book “To Be A Nation” by William McAteer, which is now selling at Antigone Trading, Victoria House, at R320 per copy.
The front cover of “To Be A Nation” gives a brief outline of the story – “Today it is a prime holiday destination, but not so long ago Seychelles was virtually unknown to the outside world. Ceded to Britain at the end of the Napoleonic wars, the islands were woefully neglected until well into the 20th century. It was only after World War II that Britain gave serious thought to the islands’ social and political development.
While many Seychellois wanted to break free from British tutelage, a greater number at first feared that change would endanger their quiet and peaceful life, and were content to enjoy what freedom they already had. But who was to give voice to these differing aspirations? The answer came in the early 1960s when two young barristers decided to form rival political parties. James Mancham and Albert René had vastly different visions for Seychelles, but in the end they agreed to suppress their opposing views and, together, achieve independence for their country. That agreement was to end abruptly with the coup d’etat on 5 June, 1977.
This book ends with the creation of the Republic of Seychelles in July 1976, but the legacy of the deep political hostility between the two men who brought it about lingers on.”
About the Author
William McAteer spent over 25 years as a journalist in East Africa, serving in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda. He was editor of the ‘Mombasa Times’ in 1964-65, and for several years headed the School of Journalism at the University of Nairobi. From 1981 to 1993, he worked as a journalist and newspaper editor in the Arab state of Qatar. He first visited Seychelles in 1955, while on the editorial staff of the East African Standard. It was in Sey-chelles that he met his wife, Juliette Mellon, whose fami-ly lived on Cerf Island. They were married in Nairobi in 1958, and have one son and two daughters. Born in Glasgow, the author is a graduate of Glasgow University and since 1994 has lived with his wife in Seychelles.

 EDITORIAL NOTE:
In one of our next issues, we will publish our critical analysis on this narrative of the history of Seychelles between 1920 to 1976. For now, we must admit that we find it disappointing that Mr McAteer did not go beyond 1976 – so that we could really know what happened after Independence. Obviously, he did not want to go into the period of real turmoil which prevailed under the One Party State of Mr France Albert René.