Diary of an African Journey - The Return of Rider Haggard

Published in 2000 by the University of Natal Press (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press) and edited by Stephen Coan, Diary of an African Journey presents the remarkable and previously unpublished account of Sir H. Rider Haggard's return to southern Africa in 1914. Best known as the author of classic adventure novels such as King Solomon's Mines and She, Haggard revisited the region that had inspired much of his fiction after an absence of more than three decades. The result is a fascinating historical document that offers readers a rare glimpse into both a changing southern Africa and the evolving perspectives of one of the British Empire's most influential writers.

In Diary of an African Journey, Haggard travels extensively through South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and neighbouring territories while serving as a member of the British Dominions Royal Commission. His observations range from landscapes, agriculture, and wildlife to politics, race relations, and the social conditions of the period. He encounters political leaders, farmers, officials, and ordinary citizens, recording his impressions with a mixture of curiosity, nostalgia, and concern for the future of the region.

What makes Diary of an African Journey especially significant is its historical value. Written during a pivotal period shortly after the formation of the Union of South Africa and following the implementation of the 1913 Native Land Act, the diary captures a society undergoing profound transformation. Readers gain insight into Haggard's reflections on colonialism, land ownership, African politics, and the dramatic changes he witnessed since his earlier years in Africa.

Enhanced by Stephen Coan's scholarly editing, annotations, maps, and contextual notes, Diary of an African Journey is far more than a travel narrative. It is an important work of Africana, colonial history, and literary scholarship that sheds new light on both southern Africa and the complex legacy of Rider Haggard himself. For historians, collectors, and readers interested in African history and travel writing, this volume remains an absorbing and valuable resource.

Condition: Fine/Like New - Almost as new. Minor shelf wear.