Alexandra, I Love You. A Record of Seventy Years by Swift, Jon (text), with Vicky Alhadeff, Alf Kumalo and others (photographers)

(Johannesburg: Alexandra Liaison Committee, 1983) 0620072342. 4to; original red boards, lettered in gilt on spine; pictorial dustwrapper; pp. 93 + (ii); numerous, largely monochrome, photographs. Dustwrapper a little rubbed and edgeworn; occasional fox spot. Very good condition. "Alexandra Township lies to the north of Johannesburg between the old Pretoria Main Road and the much newer Eastern Bypass. On the map the area is a rectangle comprising twenty two avenues in parallel grid formation. From the air, the mainly dirt roads are not as neat as the map suggests but the uniformity comes from the monochrome pattern of matchbox dwellings, covering almost two square kilometres of rough, undulating ground. The biggest surprise of all is the situation of Alexandra. It is one of the few black townships to be completely hemmed in by white suburbs. ... There are few community facilities. A recent count revealed 49 churches, one clinic, one cinema, two beerhalls, two discos, three soccer fields and four tennis courts. Mere statistics give little idea of a community. After seventy years Alexandra has a history of survival and achievements and a unique group identity. What follows in this book is an attempt to capture in words and pictures something of the grief and glory that was and is Alexandra Township." .