Die Lang Generaal

by Alan D. Elsdon

Hierdie boek deur Alan D. Elsdon vertel van ’n skrikbewind wat besaai was van politieke moorde in een man se fanatieke oorlog teen die kommunisme. Generaal Lang Hendrik van den Bergh was vir baie mense die mees gevreesde man van die ou Suid-Afrika. Hy was hoof van die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid (boss, op Engels), en dis van sy bedrywighede dat Die lang generaal vertel – op ’n feitelike basis, maar met die inkleding van waarskynlike scenario’s waar feite nie bekombaar is nie.
Volgens die boek sou Van den Berg betrokke kon gewees het by die sluipmoord op HF Verwoerd, die dood van Nic Diederichs, en van Steve Biko, asook die moorde op Anton Lubowski en prof. Johan Heyns.
Twee van die opspraakwekkendste moorde waarmee hierdie boek die generaal verbind, is dié op dr. Robert Smit en sy vrou in 1977. Hierdie moordraaisel is nooit opgelos nie, maar hier word oortuigend aangevoer wat die geheimsinnige woorde “rau tem” kon beteken wat op die Smit-egpaar se kombuismuur gevind is.
Vanaf ’n ontmoeting van geesgenote in die Koffiefonteinse interneringskamp, deur die paranoïese jare sestig, die omgekrapte sewentigs en deur die Inligtingskandaal wat die NP-establishment geskud het, teken hierdie boek ’n skrikwekkende beeld van ’n bewind se agente wat deur ideologie oor die morele afgrond gedryf is.

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ipeleng Chauke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book I would definitely recommend this book to every one that loves conspiracy theories. If there's any truth to it - damn!!! If not, it's still one of my yearly favorite reads.. Sharp

[Hetta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very interested in reading this book but lost faith in the author when he talks about the demolition of District Six on page 78: "They moved in and demolished every home, church, mosque, school, shop and standing structure." This is incorrect, some churches and mosques were left standing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District.... If a well known and easily checkable fact like this is incorrect (editors?) then all the other 'facts' in the book become questionable. Despite it being a work of fiction "...based on facts supplemented by likely scenariors..." I felt that whatever credibility there may have been in the writing was undermined by this and I lost interest in the book.

[Ashley Driver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complicated and sometimes clumsy writing style doesn't stop this being a riveting account of what might have gone on behind the scenes in a number of suspicious murders, accidents and assassinations in South Africa's history, all revolving around one particular character, the Tall Assassin. Although presented as a work of fiction beyond anything already publicly known to be fact, I would (probably) feel a lot less unsettled knowing on what grounds some of the 'fiction' was based and just how close to the truth it might or might not be. I was completely engrossed to the last page.

[Johanbaard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the book interesting and disturbing. I couldn't find any reference via a quick Google search for "Nic Diederichs death bed confession " or "groot eiland documents briefcase verwoerd" or "Robert Smith grand corruption " as mentioned on p233 of the book. Did the author take liberty to make this up? And how much else is actually fiction in this book that claims to be "based on facts" as stated on the front page?

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? I doubt it but still enjoyed reading this and Sharp, you are probably dead by now if you are real but if not. Sharp.

[Barry Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and well written. Slightly frustrating as the author doesn't make it clear where fact ends and fiction ends. But I enjoyed reading it and I am glad that I did!

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The truth? Almost unbelievable. A sobering portrayal of how political fanaticism spawned its cold hearted killers.

It is a pity that the author did not authenticate his facts with references. His use of direct speech undermines the claim to fact.

[Gilgamesh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unsubstantiated hearsay.

[Johan Kotze · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chilling account/

[Rendier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nie baie goed geskryf nie, maar 'n baie interressante boek. Gee 'n ander prentjie aan gebeure wat ek onthou, en laat jou dink ...

[Salomé Kotzé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boeiend, skokkend en beslis baie stof tot nadenke.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Badly written but absolutely astonishing!