KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna resident Steve Collinson (61) has written a book about the recorded history of Knysna. The book, entitled Knysna 250 Years of History, was launched at the Knysna Yacht Club on 12 November.
Collinson said the book, which he published himself, not only constitutes a timeline of historical events, but also features some of the characters and other interesting information that made Knysna what it is today.
"The book is not just a history book, it is also a book that can help tourists and other people to know the area," he told Knysna-Plett Herald.
Collinson, resident in Knysna since 2013, said it covers the time from the first recorded settlers in 1770 up to 2020.
"The book goes into detail about the events that have built the town: the explorers and settlers, disasters, ships and shipwrecks, roads and railways, buildings and bridges, timber and gold, oysters and honey, beer and gin, elephants and sea horses, sericulturists (raw silk producers) and lepidopterists, world records and world champions, festivals and other shows," Collinson said.
The cover of Steven Collinson's book.
He started the project in 2018 by copying information from websites about Knysna. "As I investigated I found out more, and the more I looked, the more I found something. Lots of people have written history books about Knysna but they haven't brought it up to date," he said.
"I had to read more than 100 books about Knysna and do my own research before writing the book… I wanted to get the book out this year and I wrote it with the information I could find. If people come with new information, I will update it."
The book is available at the Knysna Book Exchange in Pledge Square, Déjà Vu antique shop in Woodmill Lane and the German Shop in Waterfront Drive.
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