UP recently celebrated the publication of a three-volume book by Prof Charles van Onselen of the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship. The Three Wise Monkeys focuses on the often concealed economic, political and social dynamics that informed the rise of 20th-century South Africa.

The University of Pretoria’s (UP) Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship (CAS) recently hosted an event to celebrate the launch of Professor Charles van Onselen’s latest publication, a trilogy titled The Three Wise Monkeys.

 Prof Van Onselen is a research professor in the Faculty of Humanities and has been associated with the CAS since 1999. He is a prolific historian and the author of many monographs; he has also contributed several chapters to various publications and accredited journals.

 Publisher Jonathan Ball summarises the book as follows: “The Three Wise Monkeys explores some of the contradictions, silences and oversights, and working misunderstandings that arise when an emerging Anglophone, Protestant, industrial and urbanising state – South Africa – develops side by side with Mozambique – a Lusophone, Catholic, commercial, rural colony.”

 Prof Van Onselen explained that in the three volumes of the collection – The Making of an African Economic Tragedy (Vol I), Through the Turnstiles of the Mind (Vol II) and The Quest for Wealth without Work (Vol III) – various “not so obvious” aspects (see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil) of the intertwined past of two vastly different neighbouring countries, Mozambique and South Africa, are revealed. He reflected on his research of more than six years, the beginnings of which could be seen in his previous publication, The Night Trains (Jonathan Ball, 2019). After Prof Van Onselen’s presentation, questions were put to him and the audience, which resulted in insightful interactions.

 As a recipient of international and local awards, prizes, fellowships and scholarships, the CAS said it was honoured to bear witness to yet another of Prof Van Onselen’s publications and the fruit of several years of groundbreaking research. Director of the CAS Prof James Ogude described Prof Van Onselen as a typical researcher who, without much ado, “gets on with the job”. “He quietly goes about his task, then, suddenly, another sterling publication, or in this case, no less than three publications, see the light,” Prof Ogude said.

 The three volumes have been reviewed by various editors, with one of the most insightful being that of Ed Stoddard of The Daily Maverick. In his review, he quotes Prof Van Onselen: “Only by seeing, hearing and speaking honestly about the past can we hope to understand our troubled present.” Stoddard concludes his review by saying that “our understanding of our present has been enriched by Prof Van Onselen’s approach to this daunting complex and fascinating matter”.

 UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tawana Kupe reiterated the importance of A1 National Research Foundation-rated researchers for the University and commended Prof Van Onselen for the eight books he had produced since joining UP.