Anthony Pearce (Clayton 1975) had an unconventional path to becoming a published author. After matriculating from St John’s College, he studied commerce at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte & Co, worked briefly in the United States, and then emigrated to Australia in 1986.
For most of his career, Anthony worked as the CFO of a large property company in Sydney, where he lives with his wife, Gillian, and their two adult children, Katherine and James. While working in the corporate world, he quietly pursued his interest in history through part-time study, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Master of International Studies.
This lifelong interest resulted in Apartheid’s Noble Revolutionaries, a book that explores the role of Bram Fischer and other freedom fighters in the struggle against apartheid. It covers South Africa’s history from the first white settlement at the Cape through to the end of apartheid, focusing on how the apartheid state took shape and how it was challenged.
Anthony’s interest in this period stems from growing up during apartheid. He left South Africa as “a disillusioned and angry young man”. During his youth, it was difficult to access information about anti-apartheid activists, as the government had managed to remove figures like Nelson Mandela from the public eye. It was only after apartheid ended that he could read more widely and begin to understand the full scope of the country’s history.
A key figure in the book is Bram Fischer. “I am particularly fascinated by Bram Fischer, the advocate who defended Nelson Mandela in the famous Rivonia trial,” Anthony explains. “He was enormously talented and came from a very privileged Afrikaner background, yet he was willing to sacrifice so much for the anti-apartheid cause. I tried to understand why Fischer became such a committed communist, especially as I’ve always been opposed to the ideology of communism.”
While doing research for the book, Anthony was surprised to discover that Bram and Molly Fischer’s son Paul had attended St John’s College. This personal connection brought the story closer to home. He tried to imagine what it must have been like for the boy, who faced serious health problems, lost his mother in a car crash during his matric year, and saw his father arrested the following year and sentenced to life in prison the year after that. This discovery inspired Anthony to use a fictional St John’s teacher as the book’s narrator. It was a creative risk that didn’t come easily, as he is more comfortable writing history than fiction.
His research also uncovered stories of other Old Johannians such as Hugh Lewin and the apartheid spy Craig Williamson, placing St John’s within the wider anti-apartheid story.
Anthony hopes readers will admire the selfless efforts of Fischer and others, while also recognising what he calls their “optimistic naivety”. Many believed that the end of apartheid was just around the corner, underestimating the government’s ability to cling to power. “A lot of their sabotage efforts were unsuccessful, and they paid a heavy price. Many spent years in prison,” Anthony says. “Bram Fischer died in prison, and I want readers to consider how much he gave up in the fight against apartheid.”
To Anthony’s surprise, Apartheid’s Noble Revolutionaries has found a following overseas. Non-South African readers have found it helpful in making sense of the country’s complicated history, using Fischer’s story to understand how apartheid came to be and how it was eventually dismantled.
Anthony’s love for history began at St John’s. It was his favourite subject, thanks in part to Teddy Lester, who played a key role in nurturing his interest. He also remembers enjoying a textbook edited by Headmaster Jan Breitenbach, which was more engaging than the official materials. His father’s well-stocked history bookshelf at home further encouraged his curiosity.
Asked about a memorable school moment, Anthony recalls being told by Father Salter to audition for the choir. “The Choirmaster, Mr Barsby, was so horrified at my audition that he sent me back to Father Salter with the suggestion that I become an altar server for the rest of my time at school!” The memory still makes him smile.
Most of his former teachers have likely passed on, and Anthony doubts any would remember a student from 50 years ago. Still, he hopes that today’s teachers are encouraged to know that their lessons can spark a lifelong passion in their students.
When asked for advice on writing, Anthony is clear: “I would recommend getting tertiary training. My background in essay and thesis writing gave me the confidence to take on the bigger task of writing a book.” As for what comes next, he simply says, “I keep trying.”
Looking back on his school days, Anthony adds, “St John’s College should be proud of its history in opposing apartheid.” He has included the school in his book through various stories and hopes that Old Johannians will enjoy Apartheid’s Noble Revolutionaries and appreciate how their school features in this important part of South Africa’s past.
Ebook editions are available on Amazon (Kindle), Google Books, Kobo, and Apple iBooks. Paperback copies can be purchased via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or by contacting the author directly at awpearce@bigpond.com.