Looking on Darkness (novel)

The novel was the first Afrikaans book to be banned by the South African government.

[1] One of the story lines in the novel which caused controversy was that of a tragic relationship between a Coloured man and a white English woman, a type of relationship that was illegal under Apartheid, and the inclusion of such a storyline was harmful to the relations of different ethnicities in South Africa according to the Publications Control Board.

[2] Seeking a readership abroad after being banned in South Africa,[3] André Brink translated Kennis van die aand into English and published it abroad as Looking on Darkness.

[4] Kirkus review had mixed reception of the novel, writing, "All of this has more validity as thesis than as fiction.

"[5] But the author reportedly said in September 1973, before the book was banned, that an initial run of 30,000 copies was selling well enough that a second printing would probably be needed in January of the following year.