First Edition: 133 pages, original light grey cloth, title in black on the upper cover and spine, dust wrapper frayed along the folds of the flaps and now preserved in a Brodart protector, contents bright, a very good copy.
‘Bosman was born near Cape Town but grew up and lived in the Transvaal for most of his life. In 1926, while on holiday at home from his new teaching post on a farm school near Zwingli in the Marico District, he was arrested and subsequently convicted for the murder of his step-brother. He was condemned to hang on death row, but his sentence was commuted to hard labour and he was eventually released after four years in prison. His unique account of this time was published as Cold Stone Jug in 1949.
‘After his release on parole in 1930, he worked as a journalist in Johannesburg. In 1934 he left for London, returning to South Africa in 1940, following the outbreak of war across Europe. It was during this time in London that Bosman wrote the bulk of stories that were eventually published as Mafeking Road in 1947. Bosman became quite famous for these short stories that were set against the background of the Marico district in Western Transvaal and introduced one of South Africa's most endearing fictional characters, "Oom Schalk Lourens". In the same year, Bosman published his first novel, Jacaranda in the Night.
‘Bosman also wrote under the pseudonyms Will-o'-the-Wisp, Ben Eath, Ben Africa, Ben Onion, Ferdinand Fandango, Herman Malan or simply as H.C.B.’
- Overall Condition: Very good
- Size: 8vo (220 x 145 mm)
