Wentworth is in Yorkshire and was surrounded by 70 collieries employing tens of thousands of men. It is the finest and largest Georgian house in Britain andbelonged to the Fitzwilliam family. It is England's forgotten palace which belonged to Britain's richest aristocrats. Black Diamonds tells the story of its demise: family feuds, forbidden love, class war, and a tragic and violent death played their part. But coal, one of the most emotive issues in twentieth century British politics, lies at its heart. This is the extraordinary story of how the fabric of English society shifted beyond recognition in fifty turbulent years in the twentieth century.

The portrayal of the events, people, and company that created a boomtown and a rare glimpse into the wheelings and dealings of cattle barons, oil tycoons, and politicos on a truly Texas scale.

Kristin Uys is a tough Roodepoort magistrate who lives alone with her cat. She is on a one-woman crusade to wipe out prostitution in the town for reasons that have personal significance for her. Although she is unable to convict the Visagie Brothers, Stevo and Shortie, on charges of running a brothel, she manages to nail Stevo for contempt of court and gives him a summary six-month sentence. From Diepkloof Prison, the outraged Stevo orchestrates his revenge against the magistrate, aided and abetted by his rather inept brother Shortie and his erstwhile nanny, Aunt Magda, who believes mass action will force the powers that be to release Stevo. Kristin receives menacing phone calls and her home is invaded and vandalised. Even her cat is threatened. The chief magistrate insists on assigning a bodyguard to protect her. To Kristin's consternation, security guard Don Mateza moves into her home and trails her everywhere. Nor does this suit Don's long-time girlfriend Tumi, former model and successful businesswoman, who is intent on turning Don into a Black Diamond sooner rather than later. And Don soon finds that his new assignment has unexpected complications which Tumi simply does not understand. In Black Diamond, Zakes Mda tackles every conceivable South African stereotype, skilfully (and with the lightest touch) turning them upside down and exposing their ironies, often hilariously. This is a clever, quirky novel that captures the essence of contemporary life in Gauteng and will resonate with all South Africans.

"Black Diamonds brings back to life in their own words the times, characters and playing careers of 11 men who starred in the Negro Leagues. This follow up volume to Holway's award winning Blackball Stars (Meckler Books 1988) reveals history on two levels. First is the history on the field-the dramatic home runs, the World Series victories, and the All-Star game thrills, etc. The second is the history of the larger field, the nation. We meet Dave Barnhill in Zulu costume barnstorming with the Ethiopian Clowns, Buck O'Neil dodging bullets from the railroad cop in a hobo jungle, Gene Benson punching a soldier who ordered him out of a railroad car in Dixie, and many others. These men all lived a moment in history that will never return, a history that can now be a heritage to us all"--Page 3 of flaps.