Sizwe Bansi Is Dead by Athol Fugard

This play explores the harsh realities of apartheid in South Africa through the story of a black man who adopts a dead man's identity to improve his prospects. After being forced to leave his home in King William's Town due to restrictive work laws, he assumes the name and papers of a dead man named Sizwe Bansi, effectively erasing his own identity. The narrative unfolds in a photography studio, where he has come to have his picture taken with his new identity. Through this act, he grapples with the loss of his name and the complex issues of dignity, identity, and survival under an oppressive regime, revealing the personal cost of systemic racial injustice.

The 6987th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 48

Since this book was first published in 1972, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 48.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.