The Old Diocesan Issue 12 - Magazine - Page 94
BOOKS
Looted! The Nazi
Art Plunder of Jewish
Families in France
by Peter Elliott (1967W)
Pen & Sword Books
Peter Elliott is a career
lawyer who retired in 2011
to live in France. He is also
a historian focusing on art
history, and the author of
six books. His most recent,
Looted!, chronicles the
systematic confiscation
of art collections from
prominent French-Jewish
families during the Nazi
occupation of 1940-1944.
Monets, Renoirs and
Gauguins once belonging
to families behind brands
such as Chanel, Lacoste
and Galeries Lafayette fill
the pages. In December,
Peter discussed Looted!
on the Who ARTed
podcast, produced
by Airwave Media.
“A thought-provoking
read that encourages us
to reflect on the role of
art in our own life, and in
the lives of the super-rich.
It also helps keep alive a
story that is still relevant
today.” –Colin Duncan
Taylor, author
90 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
Mandela’s Last
Prison Guard
by Jack Swart with
Andrew Russell (1981G)
Blue Ear Books
On graduating from prison
training, Jack Swart was
presented with a dictionary
by Hendrik Verwoerd.
He went on to serve in the
Department of Correctional
Services from 1965 to 1996,
working at Robben Island,
Pollsmoor and Victor
Verster prisons. In 1988,
he was disappointed to be
chosen to look after Nelson
Mandela. With Andrew
Russell, his long-time
manager, Swart tells the
story of the life-changing
14 months during which
he cooked and cleaned for,
looked after and became
friends with the world’s
most famous political
prisoner. (Mandela made
his own bed; they took
turns washing the dishes.)
From Robben Island in the
1960s to the day Mandela
simply tapped him on the
shoulder and walked to
freedom, Swart’s story is
“a testament to the power
of human connection
across the deepest divides”.
The Essence of Success
by Greg Mills (1979O) and
Emanuele Pirro
Penguin Random House
Greg Mills is a book-writing
phenom. In his latest, the
geopolitical strategist and
2022 Robert Gray medallist
turns his attention to a
timeless question: how
do individuals achieve
extraordinary outcomes,
often in the face of
constraint? Drawing
on examples from sport,
business, politics and
conflict, he and his coauthor, former F1 driver
Emanuele Pirro, identify the
habits and disciplines that
underpin sustained success.
The argument is clear and
encouraging: while talent
and circumstance matter,
progress begins with
personal responsibility
and the determination
to improve on yesterday’s
performance.
“This is a fabulous book,
combining the sharp
analytical eye of the
strategist with the
grounded human insight
of the practitioner.”
–James Holland, author
Ultimate Springbok
Heroes, from School
to Test Rugby
Don Nelson Publishers
Conceptualised and mostly
written by Don Nelson
(1957G), the Ultimate
Springbok Heroes series
is aimed at the evergrowing legions of young
Springbok fans. As Don
explains it, “Millions of
people support rugby
in South Africa, which
has become a game for
all. Children are rugbymad due to the success
of the Springboks, and
are passionate about their
heroes.” A first tranche
of six books, released
in 2025, features double
Rugby World Cup winners
Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe,
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben
Etzebeth, Faf de Klerk
and Handré Pollard. With
contributions from family
members, school teachers
and coaches, the books
provide particular insight
into their school days.
Another six books,
including Sacha FeinbergMngomezulu (2020F)
and Rassie Erasmus,
are due out this year.
