Crossing the Borders of Power: The Memoirs of Colin Eglin is a compelling firsthand account of one of South Africa’s most influential liberal politicians, whose career spanned the height of apartheid and the dawn of democracy. Eglin was a central figure in the country’s opposition politics, serving in Parliament under seven different prime ministers and presidents. In this reflective memoir, he charts not only his own political journey but also the shifting landscape of South African governance and society across the 20th century.
From a Cape Town boyhood in the 1920s and 1930s to his wartime service in Italy during the Second World War, Eglin’s story is one of resilience, principle, and commitment to justice. As a founding member of the Progressive Party and a voice of reasoned opposition during South Africa’s most turbulent years, his insights offer valuable context into the nation’s political evolution. The memoir serves not only as a personal narrative but also as an important historical document chronicling the path toward democracy.
