Spud, the debut novel of South Africa-based playwright, actor, producer and writer, John van de Ruit, chronicles the first year of John ‘Spud’ Milton at an elite, boys-only boarding school, set against the tumultuous backdrop of apartheid.

Joined by a motley crew of eccentrics, known as the ‘Crazy Eight’, the year is packed with late night swims, storming theatrical performances, strings of girl-based problems and, tragically, death.

While skilfully conveying the horrors of boarding school with painful accuracy, van de Ruit never descends to the bathetic. Instead, he creates a host of strangely endearing characters, from the foul-mouthed English teacher, known as the Guv, to the Wombat, a dotty, yet frequently hilarious, old granny. Interweaved into all this is the fervent prejudice of the white population against the legalization of the ANC and the end of apartheid, effectively commented on but never laboured over.

Highly recommended.