THE BOY IN YOU

496pp. Illustrated profusely with colour and black/white photographs, maps and drawings. Hard cover - board covered with dark St Andrean blue material and gilt titling to the spine and a gilt illustration of the St Andrews' bell tower on the front cover.

Near fine condition. There is a small dark smudge on the top left of the title page and a scratch mark of 3cm to the left of the photo on the back cover of the dust jacket.

This biographical content in this book spans the history of College from 1855 to 2005. When the eminent South African academic and politician, J.H. Hofmeyr was invited to address the boys of St Andrews College in 1929 he said, 'I hope that you will always be true to the boy in you.' 

The wisdom of this statement is profound  for, throughout a man's life, he carries with him the boy he once was, and the formative years at school influence to a great extent the sort of man he will become. Those educated at St Andrew's - set, as it is, in the harsh 'frontier' land that once determined much of the history of South Africa - have, through 150 years, been characterised by a distinctive blend of courage, fortitude and humility. it is for these boys that this book has been written - to record a particular time in their lives and honour the extraordinary loyalty and sense of belonging so many have demonstrated towards their school. 

The Boy in You vividly captures the life-story of one of South Africas great historic schools. Written by the distinguished author Marguerite Poland, the book weaves a compelling narrative of boyhood that is both universal and particular, and has a resonance that will provide insight and inspiration to a wide circle of readers.

It is an educational biography of a fascinating and enduring institution. Challenged since 1855 by the harsh and fluctuating environment of the Eastern Cape and South Africa, many of the headmasters, staff and boys of this boarding school have played significant roles both nationally and internationally. Dr Marguerite Poland weaves a compelling narrative of boyhood that is at once universal and particular. The schools story reflects several years of meticulous archival research as well as hundreds of living memories from Old Andreans both in writing and in face-to-face interviews.

Source: Dust jacket flap and back cover.