Comments on: Books on the 19th century South African diamond industry

Question: Books on the 19th century South African diamond industry

stammer — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:36:39 -0800

What are the best books about the South African diamond industry during the mid-to-late 19th century?

I am distantly related to Barney Barnato and would like to find out whether he was particularly evil, but I'm also just interested in the period generally.

By: rdn

rdn — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:05:11 -0800

Not an answer, exactly, but the Atlantic ran a fascinating piece on the South African diamond industry back in 1982. It might provide some background/starting points. It's available on-line here.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:26:56 -0800

Found some stuff on google books.

By: PenDevil

PenDevil — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:35:23 -0800

I do not know any specific books but you might be interested in books that cover

Cecil John Rhodes (who eventually bought out DeBeers from Barnato)

Paul Kruger and the Boer Republics (although they were more involved gold mining)

By: click

click — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:50:57 -0800

I cut and pasted these from a bibliography for a paper I wrote on conflict diamonds (and the diamond trade in general). I have, and can provide, the titles of numerous related books but they deal mostly with Sierra Leone and Angola.

Newbury, Colin. The Diamond Ring: Business, Politics and Precious Stones in South Africa, 1867-1947. Oxford: CLA Rendon Press, 1989.

Roberts, Brian. The Diamond Magnates. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1972.

Lenzen, Dr. Godehard. The History of Diamond Production and the Diamond Trade. London: Barrie and Jenkins, 1966.

Epstein, Edward Jay. The Rise and Fall of Diamonds. New York: Simon and Schuster,
1982.

Burgess, P.H.E. Diamonds Unlimited. London: The Adventures Club, 1960.