Robert Shell has once again published another historical chapter of the History of the Slave Lodge. This larger than life man has turned out a marathon project with as much vigor, intent and colour as his previous publication “Children of Bondage”.

Shell’s research and passion for slavery has created a vast amount of information on the lives and people who lived within the boundaries of this brothel, lunatic house and slave lodge. The overcrowding, selling and mortality of these souls are magnified to such an extent that we cannot forget the hardships and the cruelty endured by these people under the British and Dutch rule. The book encompasses over 900 pages of text, images and maps sourced from the finest possessions in South Africa.

Also included is the register of the slave lodge census of 1714, the death register of lodge slaves spanning 60 years of 3500 slaves. This wonderful book serves as a fantastic reference for any University, School or Individual who has an interest in the early history of the Cape.

This book is available in CD Format in our catalogue and can be purchased on this website

Review written by: Heather MacAlister

Tags: British rule, brothel, Cape, Children of Bondage, death register, Diaspora to Diorama, Dutch rule, History of the Slave Lodge, lodge census, lodge slaves, lunatic house, mortality, Robert Shell, slave lodge, slave lodge census, Slavery, slaves, South Africa, Weekly Topics