Inspired by real events, You Will Be Safe Here uncovers a hidden colonial history and present-day darkness while exploring humanity’s capacity for cruelty and kindness.
Set in South Africa in 1901 and 2010, the novel draws parallels between a concentration camp at the height of the Boer War and a modern-day training camp which makes ‘men out of boys’.
‘It’s rare for a novel to go so deep that you come out of reading it a different person from when you went in. Damian Barr’s investigation of a part of South Africa’s history the British have been trying to forget for many many years is such a book. It was a very brave book to write, and parts of it call for some courage to read, but nothing more unusual and impressive has appeared for years.’ Diana Athill
Damian Barr’s Literary Salon
Damian Barr’s Literary Salon tempts the world’s finest writers to the world’s loveliest venues to read from their latest, greatest works and share their own stories. They showcase established...
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