A conversation with the author – historian and researcher Karen Horn
30 October 2025 – 4:00 PM
Italian Cultural Institute, Pretoria
The Italian Cultural Institute in Pretoria is pleased to host the presentation of Prisoners of Jan Smuts, in conversation with Karen Horn, historian and research fellow at the University of the Free State.
The book explores the survival, resilience, and mischief of Italian prisoners of war in South Africa during the Second World War. Drawing on the memoirs and letters of five Italian POWs, the work offers a compelling portrayal of both hardship and humanity behind barbed wire, revealing the complex and often unexpected bonds formed in times of conflict.
Through this conversation, Karen Horn will shed light on a lesser-explored chapter by South African and Italian historiography, intertwining academic insight with personal narratives that resonate with empathy and historical depth.
Venue: Italian Cultural Institute, 803 George Avenue, Arcadia – Pretoria
Date and time: Thursday, 30 October 2025, at 4:00 PM
Free entry, reservation required
RSVP by 23 October at pretoria.italy@gmail.com