Albie Sachs is South African and often quotes Gandhi in his prison diary, which has recently been published in French translation. Titled in French Notre histoire mérite une fin heureuse (Our Story Deserves a Happy Ending), this book is a valuable testimony to the harsh years in South Africa, coupled with a reflection on political commitment, writing, and the human condition.
“Our Story Deserves a Happy Ending” recounts your detention in the jails of the apartheid regime in South Africa. Can you tell us about the genesis and publication of this book?
It was published in 1966, after my release from prison. I had the idea for it during my incarceration and started writing it in prison. Writing allowed me to survive in prison, where I spent several weeks in total isolation. I also drew strength from my reading memories. I read a lot at the time, mainly works written by