The experiences of women from all race groups, classes and political persuasions are brought to life in this compelling collection of extracts. Living in close proximity but often in vastly different realities, South African women were, in many ways, ‘the closest of strangers’ to each other, and their relationships were marked by both intimacy and alienation.

The selection draws on a large number of autobiographical texts by both ordinary and extraordinary women such as Sarah Raal, Emily Hobhouse, Pauline Smith, Phyllis Ntantala, Dr Goonam, Katie Makanya, Pauline Podbrey, Norma Kitson, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Helen Joseph, Ruth First, Helen Suzman, Bessie Head, Mamphela Ramphele, Emma Mashinini, Antjie Krog, Charlene Smith and Maria Ndlovu.

Judith Lütge Coullie lectures in English at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.