117 Days

by Ruth First, Gillian Slovo

'In prison you see only the moves of the enemy. Prison is the hardest place to fight a battle.' 117 Days is Ruth First's personal account of her detention under the iniquitous '90-day' law of 1963. There was no warrant, no charge and no trial - only suspicion. This sparsely written and unique record tells of her experiences of solitary confinement, constant interrogation and instantaneous re-arrest on release - lightened by humorous portraits of governors, matrons, wardresses and interrogators, seen as the tools of the police state.

Genres: Nonfiction, Africa, History, South Africa, Memoir, 20th Century, School

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Ruth First was a South African politician, scholar, reporter and anti-apartheid activist.

Reviews

[Nelisiwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to live for a bigger purpose than selfish ambition and pleasure, Ruth is my hero.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not much of a non fiction reader but I was so intrigued by the title that I just had to go ahead and pick this up.

Ruth First was a journalist who was fired pertaining to possession of an illegal newspaper which she edited and was later on arrested under the 90 days rule. She was a white opponent during apartheid and actively worked towards liberation.

I found her account of her time during prison, to be blunt, quite horrifying. I sadly didn't know anything about this rule prior to reading the book but to think that one could be sent to jail simply on a suspiscion gave me chills. Her incorportation of the accounts of other people who were wrongfully detained under this law gave the book momentum and it was interesting to read what different people went through.

The last line of the book was simply upsetting in a horrid way, and possibly true as well. Definitely going to have to research about her life after she went into exile.

[Leah Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting. I am not usually into non fiction but I wanted to branch out so I could learn a little bit more about histories that I am unfamiliar with- in this case, South African Apartheid.

[Amber Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important book everyone should read. Sad, and tough to disgust the terrible truths during apartheid.

[Nonku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hauntingly self-reflective.

[Elliot Ratzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth First was a fierce high-profile white opponents of apartheid. She and her lawyer husband, Joe Slovo, were active in the Communist Party and the African National Congress and were intimately involved with the ANC’s hapless turn to armed struggle. As a journalist, First was banned from writing, arrested for having one forgotten copy of a radical newspaper (which she edited), and, as a white person, enjoyed some minor privileges when incarcerated—Blacks were tortured and murdered. This doesn’t make this short memoir any less psychologically horrifying as we follow her through arbitrary 90-day detentions. She quotes testimonies from other comrades who were locked up in this sweep. This might be a good book to introduce the whole history of apartheid as it touches on the various trials of Mandela, the mostly Jewish white allies, and the politics of censorship and confinement that the Afrikaans-led government imposed. Several decades later, in exile, First was murdered by a letter bomb.

[Mikey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book to read during coronavirus pandemic. Puts social distancing in perspective.

[Chloe]

*Read for Marxist lit class*

[Marina Takagi · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my South African Women’s Memoir class

[Titi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courage and vulnerability in the face of a cruel, inhumane, unjust apartheid system. An essential read to remind one self to search for and pursue a higher calling.

[Cphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The harrowing memoir of Ruth First, her time spent in South African prisons for her stance again apartheid. A strong woman.

[Darwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth First’s humbling account of her incarceration under Apartheid South Africa’s 90 day detention law - a law so broad and far reaching that it allowed anyone merely suspected of the intention of committing a crime under the Supression of Communism Act to be detained for 90 day periods… in solitary confinement…indefinitely. In other words, you could be rearrested immediately at the end of your first 90 day period merely for the purpose of questioning - no charges need be brought. Her own narrative is intercut with those of other detainees and paints a truly terrifying portrait of South Africa’s state security apparatus. An important and powerful history about what was undoubtedly one of the most evil regimes ever to have held power.

[eve is reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was first introducted to ruth first and her husband joe slovo through reading nelson mandela's autobiography, long walk to freedom. having the prior knowledge gained through mandela's book helped me with first's as there are many mentions of various people involved in the ANC and of course rivonia trial.

first maintained her bravery and resilience throughout her imprisonment. i can't imagine the difficulties of being separated from your young children and the constant worry for those also at risk of imprisonment, or currently being held under the 90 day detention law.

if you are eager to learn more about the anti-apartheid movement, understanding ruth first and her important story is crucial. her account here is very valuable. i see that there is also a biography published on her and slovo which i would like to get to in the future.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was certainly an eye-opening book and it is frightening to imagine living in that sort of political climate. That you could be arrested without reason, no one in your family notified, and held in isolation indefinitely, it's a very upsetting thought. I applaud First for being able to not only survive her ordeal, but to write about it as well. The only thing I did not like about the novel was that there seemed to be an assumption that I understood everything that was going on at the time and who people were. I am ashamed to say that I was not familiar with any of it, but my husband was kind enough to give me a general history lesson. It would have been very beneficial if First would have given more background to what was occurring to help the reader better understand. Still, her description of being locked up is heartbreaking. I couldn't imagine being in isolation for 117 days, not to mention the psychological strain that she was under.

[Nicholas Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely chilling. A riveting account of Ruth First's experience as a solitary confinement prisoner. Incarcerated under a ninety day detention law solely at the discretion of the South African Security Branch, she is never charged and in fact re-arrested at the end of her term. Practically speaking the 90 day term could be indefinitely extended.

This personal account is brutally honest and frank. Eye opening as it deals with a Security Branch which has at this point fine-tuned it's mental and physical torture regimen. Should be required reading in all schools and universities.

[Jami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible view into apartheid... very highly recommended. It is an intense read, particularly given the horrific conclusion to Ruth First's life (see "A World Apart", the film written by her daughter). Quite an up close and personal view of the impressive willpower of the anti-apartheid movement.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know she's a great heroine and all but somehow I'm not impressed :S

[Ian Hefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

seeing where she died in Maputo, it's good to hear about this lion in the fight against Apartheid.

[Jeffrey Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering her death as well as her life, this shows the power of evil government. This is another profile in courage.