A collection of reader and press reviews found on the world wide web:

Welsh, Frank, A Borrowed Place: The History of Hong Kong, New York: Kodansha America, 1993:

Some of the best works on Hong Kong are histories or travel writing rather than pure fiction. Probably the best of the histories is Frank Welsh’s A Borrowed Place: A History of Hong Kong (1997

World Travel Guide

 There used to be a saying that "the sun never sets on the British Empire" because of the incredible number of colonies the Great Britain governed. The internationally-focused handover of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 historically marked the end of both British ruling over the Chinese financial capital and the legend of the once mighty empire.

A British and former international banker, Frank Welsh touched based with both Chinese communist ruler and British officials in the determination of Hong Kong's post-colonial scope. A full account with lucid details on the coming of joint-declaration cosigned by the Bristish and Chinese government in 1984 was included in this one-volume history of the Pearl of the Orient, also dubbed the Heart of Asia.

Upon the end of Opium War and the seizure of Hong Kong by UK more than 150 years ago, the British authority has miraculously turned a fishing village to a world-known financial and business capital. "A Borrowed Place: The History of Hong Kong" is a written account that witnesses the political, social, and economical history of the colony exploited by the Great Britain. The timely release of this volume in July 1996 sets the tone of the fearfully waited handover in exactly one year, on July 1, 1997. The book concludes with speculation on post-handover life and socioeconomic aspects of the city. One of the major concerns of natives, democrats, politicians, and even the Taiwaneses, is whether the highly-proclaimed "One Country, Two Systems" approach will function efficiently for, at least, 50 years, as firmly promised by the Chinese Communist power in Beijing.

This book is about changes. It is a recollection of events that help transforming a fishing town to the busiest port. It is, however, also a witness to whether the promise made by Chinese government will be fulfilled.

Reviewer: Matthew M. Yau                                                                                             back

Welsh, Frank, A History of Hong Kong, London: HarperCollins, 1993.

This authoritative history of Hong Kong is an excellent primer for the region.

The Economist Newspaper                                                                                             back

Welsh, Frank, A History of South Africa, London : HarperCollins, 1998

A very detailed look at the history of South Africa.

Global Exchange

The revised and updated edition of this comprehensive one-volume history of South Africa goes beyond the achievement of democracy to look at the problems facing the new society in the period since Nelson Mandela ended his term as SA's first black president. The book also goes back into SA history, and explains the country's ethnic mix - though it has also been criticised for pro-Afrikaner attitudes. Judge for yourself.

Soweto

Editorial Review - Frank Welsh's large and magisterial history of South Africa brings out the underlying pattern of the country's development: a complex and uneasy co-existence of races and cultures stretching back over 500 years to which European immigration in the 17th century merely added a new and explosive element; and a country in which change has always been rapid, often violent and frequently stressful. This makes it likely, the author suggests, that the future of South Africa in the post-apartheid era will be no less violent than in its tumultuous past.

Kalahari                                                                                                                           back

Welsh, Frank, South Africa: A Narrative History, New York: Kodansha America, 1999.

Following the region from the settlement of Cape Town to post-Apartheid politics, this sweeping narrative takes in the complex history of South Africa, including portraits of key figures such as the Zulu chief Shaka, Cecil Rhodes, Nelson Mandela and lesser-known modern leaders. From the 17th-century Dutch decision to exploit slave labor to the terrible history of the diamond mines and crueler aspects of Apartheid, this opinionated history is an excellent guide to understanding the country.

Longitude Books

More than four decades of reading South African histories did not prepare me for Welsh's narrative history of South Africa. In an elegant style he elaborates on the traditional recounting of events, adding details, fleshing out the personalities of men on the scene, while evaluating the performance of administrators and bureaucrats back in the Netherlands or England. An indication of his thoroughness is that on page 350 he is still only up to the Anglo-Boer War. He takes time to explore the career of each major player on the historical stage, demonstrating for example that the Afrikaner leaders of the Great Trek period were a quarrelsome lot, whose followers were near anarchists, ready to cooperate only as a last resort. This contrasts...

Project MUSE                                                                                           back

Welsh, Frank, Dangerous Deceits: The Secrets of Apartheid's Corrupt Bankers, London: Harper Collins, 1999.

...The only thing to puncture the great silence which has descended on the long-running story of the now infamous Reserve Bank lifeboat accommodation of about R1,5-billion to Absa/Bankorp has been the arrival of a well-researched book. It's entitled Dangerous Deceits and is written by Frank Welsh, who produced a robust and refreshing History of South Africa last year.

I have been struck by the almost total lack of publicity given to it. Now why would that be, I wonder?

Well, whatever. For those interested - and even for those who aren't - Dangerous Deceits is riveting and racy. It is also pretty scary. Given that it is non-fiction and the country is South Africa, it demands attention. For all that, Welsh occasionally reveals he was a writer in a hurry. Published by Harper Collins, it is available in softback.

The Mail & Guardian, June 18, 1999                                                                                   back

Welsh, Frank, The Four Nations: A History of the United Kingdom, London: HarperCollins, 2002

“The Four Nations is a hugely enjoyable read, full of vigor and liveliness as well as provocative commentary. It informs and instructs in an accessible way that none of its rivals can match.”

John Morrill, Cambridge University

A compelling and sometimes controversial account of how four kingdoms--England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—became one. . . . [Welsh] constantly challenges received opinion and urban myths.

Alan Taylor, Glasgow Herald

An inside knowledge of how business and administration works, and a keen sense of the realities of bargaining and marketing that underpinned successful policies in the twentieth century. . . . A big, exciting, opinionated book. . . . The book does . . . handle the history of Wales with insight, sympathy and almost complete accuracy. . . . It shows, very well, why it was that Ireland could not be assimilated into a United Kingdom, why Scotland and Wales could, and what the present strains and strengths of that kingdom are

Ronald Hutton, Times Literary Supplement                                                                        back

Welsh, Frank, Great Southern Land: A New History of Australia, London : Allen Lane, 2004.

This self-titled "new" history promises a fresh perspective on Australia's past. It is a large volume for a short history (running at more than 700 pages) and Frank Welsh has conducted considerable archival and scholarly research for the book. Despite its size, it remains fluent and accessible, written for a broad audience about Australia's past, its institutions and how it came to be judged one of the world's most successful countries.

The Age

"Great Southern Land" is the first substantial history of Australia to be written by a non-Australian.

In his introduction to "Great Southern Land", Frank Welsh says he spent five years on the task of writing the book because he loves Australia and the people, and he found writing about us a privilege. "Australia is probably the most successful society in the world and the most agreeable to live in."

ABC Radio National

When Frank Welsh decided to write this book he knew only too well the risk he was taking – it is the first substantial history of Australia to be written by a non-Australian. He foresaw the reaction of some Australians: "What does this Pommie think he knows about our country?" So he got in first: "I have spent five years on the task because I love the place and the people and it is a privilege to write about them. Australia is probably the most successful society in the world and the most agreeable to live in."

Telegraph - Phillip Knightley                                                                                       back

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