Back Roads of the Cape is not a travel guide with lists of hotels and restaurants. Instead, the pages are taken up with historical narratives, personal recollections, reflections on politics, environmental debates, social observation and some practical travel information. The rest is left up to the traveller to organise. Resources for further information are listed in the back of the book.

Since Back Roads was not written to satisfy any specific sponsor, the book is able to be honest and unbiased in the subjects that it covers. It is not obligated to omit, or to be nice to, certain establishments, so the text is opinionated and robust. The book is also an attempt to modernise the rather old-fashioned genre of travel writing with an idiosyncratic writing style and a sense of humour. It also aims to share a flavour of the travel experience with the reader and, hopefully, show them a little of the adventure that lies in wait outside the living room. "Ideally, I would like people who have read the guide to feel like they were in the car with me," says David.

David Fleminger is a freelance writer, editor, director and post-production supervisor. He is also the head producer for the Health Channel on the Mindset Network. David co-wrote and co-directed Marilyn Live, a two-act musical comedy which had successful runs in Johannesburg, Durban and East London. He wrote and directed the Body Kids TV series, a musical sitcom for pre-teen kids, published The Old Coach Road, a two-part feature in This Day newspaper in December 2002. David has worked for the Nelson Mandela Foundation, created on-air promotional competition campaigns for Ktv and directs corporate videos.

The Back Roads project grew out of David's insatiable love of travel, and his determination to make sense of South Africa's turbulent past. David also likes to try out obscure, poorly marked public roads, and has been known to turn a short, two-hour drive turn into a 12-hour epic. All these interests have now come together in a single volume that David finds quite convenient. He is a born-and-bred Joburg native but, despite his enduring love for his hometown, David acknowledges that Joburg is an excellent place from which to go on holiday.

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