Author: Cecil, Evelyn.
Title: On the Eve of the War. A Narrative of Impressions During a Journey in Cape Colony, the Free State, the Transvaal, Natal, and Rhodesia. September 1899 to January 1900.
Description: John Murray. London 1900 1st edition. Pictorial boards, teg. foredge rough-cut. 147pp illustrated plates, fold-out map. 8vo. 0.4kg. Ownership signature ffep. spine faded and with indelible black mark. ff tanned. A sound copy. Author arrived in Cape Town one month before the outbreak of war on October 11th 1899. "I had exceptional opportunities of gaining an insight into the difficulties of the problem, not only in meeting the representatives of British policy or opinion in South Africa, but in interviewing President Kruger in Pretoria and President Steyn in Bloemfontein, and other Boer leaders as well as influential gentlemen like Mr Schreiner, the Cape Prime Minister, and Mr Hofmeyr of the Afrikander Bond . I was in Ladysmith on the day of the declaration of war, and in Natal for three weeks after it had been invaded. Travelling by sea to Beira we then visited Rhodesia, leaving there at Christmas, and returning direct to England by January 26th". At the time of writing this title Evelyn Cecil was a Conservative Party Member of Parliament.

Keywords: south southern africa african rhodesia boer war