First edition: 226 pages + (18) publisher's list, frontispiece of Mr Churchill and the rhinoceros at Simba, 3 maps – 1 folding, 37 black and white plates, 24 illustrations, text lightly foxed, original pictorial red cloth dull and frayed at the top and bottom of the spine and at the corner, some light foxing.
Churchill’s 1907 East African journey was undertaken as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies a post to which he was appointed on 12th December 1905. It was a calculated blend of imperial inspection, financial gain from travel writing, and big-game hunting. The trip directly boosted his political career, leading to a Cabinet promotion. He advocated for British investment in Uganda and the building of the Uganda Railway. He opposed white settler supremacy in favour of protecting native populations. In Nairobi, he openly clashed with wealthy white settlers. He fiercely opposed their demands for total political dominance, arguing that the British Crown must protect the rights of the native African and Indian merchant populations.
Cohen (Ronald I.) Bibliography of the writings of Sir Winston Churchill A 27.1 Volume 1 pages 153 – 154, Published in December 1908 , price 5s. A total of 12,500 copies were printed.
Woods (Frederick) A Bibliography of the Works of Sir Winston Churchill (1963), A12.
Czech (Kenneth) An Annotated Bibliography of Big Game Hunting Books 1785 – 1999, page 62, ‘This was originally published in a shorter version as several articles in the British periodical, The Strand in early 1908. Churchill crossed British East Africa via the Uganda Railroad reaching Kampala and beginning his safari. At Simbax Station oryx and rhino were hunted. After arriving at Murchison Falls, he bagged a white rhino. His party continued along the White Nile where hippo, waterbuck reedbuck and roan were collected with Col Wilson of the hunting party bagging an elephant.’
Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon Chesney Wilson was Winston Churchill's uncle-by-marriage.
- Overall Condition: Very good
- Size: 8vo (195 x 135 mm)
