The Land of Free Speech (signed)

Inscribed and dated by Samuel Cronwright-Schreiner (member of the Legislative Assembly, Cape Colony), The New Age Press, 1906, fontispiece, all thirty-five illustrations present, 456 pages, owner's stamps to endpapers and title page (3 stamps in all), condition: very good.

In 1894, Olive Schreiner, author, anti-war campaigner and intellectual, married a politically active  farmer, Samuel 'Cron' Cronwright, and settled in Kimberley. They were of the same mind on the “Native Question” and on Cecil John Rhodes, which can best be described as 'not in favour'.

'The Land of Free Speech', is an account of Cronwright-Schreiner's tour of England and Scotland between 26th January 1900 and 7th July 1900. His objective was to stop the Anglo-Boer War although his stated aim was to 'address the British public on the Boer War'. Barely a month before Cronwright-Schreiner's arrival at Southampton, at the Battle of Colenso, the Boers repelled all British attempts to cross the Tugela River which lead to the death of 145 men with 1,200 missing or wounded. To describe Cronwright-Schreiner's tour as incendiary could be seen as gross understatement.

'Mr. Samuel Cronwright-Schreiner, the 'Stop the War' orator, yesterday visited Aberdeen, and the city was the scene of the most turbulent proceedings in the annuals of modern times. Two hours before the advertised time of commencing (of the 'Stop the War' meeting), thousands of people had assembled in Belmont Street, and soon it became evident that the utmost efforts of the large force of policemen would be powerless to prevent the crowd taking the hall by storm. Batons had to be drawn to keep back the mob, amidst the singing of loyal and patriotic melodies, the waving of Union Jacks, and cheering loud and long for the Queen and the various political and military leaders. Mr Schreiner, the pro-Boer agitator, left early in the morning of the day after the riot. (Daily Free Press , Aberdeen), (The Land of Free Speech, page 347).

Photographic illustrations include J. Tengo Jabavu, political activist, the editor of South Africa's first newspaper to be written in Xhosa, 'Imvo Zabantsundu ("Black Opinion")' and the grandfather of Helen (Noni) Jabavu, South African writer and journalist, and John Wilhelm Rowntree, chocolate and confectionery manufacturer also known as a Quaker activist and reformer.

The book is inscribed to Stephen Andrew, translator of literary works into Esperanto, including, 'The Story of an African Farm', as noted in the inscription by Cronwright-Schreiner. The book also belonged to Stephen's brother, Dr. C. Pridmore Andrew of Johannesburg.