The historical Karoo: traces of the past in South Africa's arid interior

To many people, the Karoo represents nothing more than a monotonous, hot and arid landscape to be driven through quickly on the way to somewhere else.

But in this vast, open region, history is everywhere. And that is exactly the purpose of The Historical Karoo to point out all the many places, buildings, objects and associated personalities of historical interest in the Karoo.

The Karoo has been the world of travellers, literary figures (Olive Schreiner and Rudyard Kipling), statesmen and politicians (Sir Winston Churchill) and medical pioneers (Dr Chris Barnard).

It has also been the scene of serious conflict, of which the many old British blockhouses, forts, grave sites and memorials dating from the Anglo-Boer War are vivid reminders; and it still boasts old examples of vernacular and industrial architecture, and engineering, in the form of corbelled houses, water mills and bridges.

The Historical Karoo takes you on a journey through the Karoo, providing short background histories of its towns and pointing out the sites, buildings and other aspects of interest.

The book is enlivened by historical and current photographs and interesting side panels.

It reveals the history that can be found in the barren Karoo in towns, buildings, forts, memorials and other historical sites.