A collection of essays by a German cultural diplomat sent to live in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his professional and personal routines and adventures bring him into contact with the reality of this improbable community.

Publication Date: November 16, 2026
Publisher: Elboro Press
ISBN: 979-8-9941213-0-6
Paperback, 252 pages
Dimensions: 5” x 8”
Retail Price: $14.99

Weird Scenes Above the Gold Mine is a collection of essays by a German cultural diplomat sent to live in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his professional and personal routines and adventures bring him into contact with the reality of this improbable community. Johannesburg owes its existence to a 19th century gold rush that has led to a motley collection of disparate people living without a common culture, language, or past, and with no interest in a shared future under adverse conditions in an inhospitable place almost 6,000 feet above sea level with no water and almost no natural vegetation. But he's fascinated by the place and the challenges it poses.