My Traitor's Heart is an autobiographical book by Rian Malan first published in 1990 on his return from exile.[1] It is subtitled South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe and His Conscience or Blood and Bad Dreams: A South African Exile Explores the Madness in His Country, His Tribe and Himself.
The book describes Malan's experience of growing up in Apartheid-era South Africa in which he explores race relations through prominent murder cases.[2][3] In addition, he reflects on the history of his family, a prominent Afrikaner clan that migrated to the Cape in the 17th century and included Daniel François Malan, the South African Prime Minister who was a principal ideological force behind Apartheid doctrine.[1]
The book became a best-seller, was translated into 11 languages[4] and was still in print 14 years later. It has been called brilliant.[5]
