Cetywayo and His White Neighbours, or Remarks on Recent Events in Zululand, Natal and the Transvaal
First edition
AuthorH. Rider Haggard
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreNon fiction
PublisherTrubner and Company
Publication date
1882
Pages250

Cetywayo and His White Neighbours, or Remarks on Recent Events in Zululand, Natal and the Transvaal is an 1882 non-fiction book by H. Rider Haggard, his first full-length published work. It was based on his time working in South Africa.[1] The "Cetywayo" of the title is the Zulu king Cetshwayo kaMpande.

Background

Haggard had worked for six years in South Africa. He wrote the book at Norwood in 1881 while also studying for the Bar. He later said it "represented a great amount of labour. I was determined that it should be accurate, and to ensure this I purchased all the Blue-books dealing with the period of which I was treating."[2]

He sent it off to various publishers and only received one offer – from Trubner and Company, who offered to produce 750 copies if Haggard gave them fifty pounds. The author did so.

Reception

The book had some good reviews and Haggard received letters of praise from such figures as Lord Carnarvon and Randolph Churchill but by 1883 had only sold 154 copies, meaning he lost his fifty pounds.[2][3] A revised edition was published in 1888.[4] Although by this time Haggard had become a popular novelist, the later edition was not popular either.[5] Haggard claims however that an 1899 edition sold 30,000 copies.[2]

References

  1. ↑ R. D. Mullen, "The Books of H. Rider Haggard: A Chronological Survey" Science Fiction Studies, # 16, Volume 5, Part 3, November 1978] accessed 13 December 2013
  2. 1 2 3 H. Rider Haggard, The Days of My Life Chapter 9 accessed 21 December 2013
  3. ↑ "General News". Southern Argus. Port Elliot, SA: National Library of Australia. 11 May 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "CURRENT LITERATURE". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 21 June 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "Rider Haggard". Oakleigh Leader. North Brighton, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 24 November 1888. p. 9. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
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