Richard Steyn chatted to Polity recently about his biography Jan Smuts: Unafraid of Greatness.

Unafraid of Greatness is a re-examination of the life and thoughts of Smuts. It is intended to remind a contemporary readership of the remarkable achievements of this impressive soldier-statesman. Steyn argues that Smuts’s role in the creation of modern South Africa should never be forgotten, not least because of his lifetime of devoted service to this country. The book draws a parallel between Smuts and President Thabo Mbeki, both architects of a new South Africa, much lionised abroad yet often distrusted at home.

In the interview, Steyn explains why he feels Smuts’s role in the creation of modern South Africa should not be forgotten:

‘Smuts was one of the towering figures of South African history, whether one liked him or not. He was a man of extraordinary intellect, he was a scholar, he was a lawyer, he was a soldier, a guerrilla leader, a military commander, a philosopher, a scientist, a politician and an international statesman.

‘He helped found the Union of South Africa, Union, rather than federation, was very much his idea. He was Minister of Defence in the First World War, South Africa’s Minister of Defence. He served in the British war cabinet, he helped found the League of Nations 20 years later. He took South Africa into the war against Hitler. He helped found the United Nations.

‘He was quite simply a man of astonishing ability and intellect. He lived to the age of 80 and played a central role in South African political life in the first 50 years of the 20th century.’

Watch the full interview here:

Categories Non-fiction South Africa

Tags Interviews Jan Smuts Jonathan Ball Publishers Polity SA Richard Steyn Videos