THE WRECK OF THE GROSVENOR

And other South African poems First edition: 134 pages, brown cloth boards, faded on spine and watermarked on front cover, corners slightly bumped, a good copy. 

William Charles Scully (1855 -1943) is best known as an author and poet. During his stay in Namaqualand he started writing short stories and poems that were published in British magazines. His first book of poems, The wreck of the 'Grosvenor' and other South African poems, was published anonymously in 1886. In addition to poetry and fiction he wrote many works based on his experiences and, in the course of his work, several reports on native affairs for the government. His contact with the nomadic white farmers of Bushmanland inspired vivid accounts of their hardships in the form of two books, Between sun and sand (1898) and Lodges in the wilderness (1915). In Reminiscences of a South African pioneer (1913) he described his life as a prospector and magistrate. 

After his retirement he visited the Witwatersrand and wrote The ridge of white waters (1916), which included notes on his travels in the Transvaal lowveld and to Maputo and Durban. In general his memoirs were an unbiased reflection of conditions at the time. Three of his books, Lodges in the wilderness}, Reminiscences and Further reminiscences of a South African pioneer, were quoted as references in C.J. Skead's Historical mammal incidence in the Cape Province (1980-1987).  

One of his books was a biography of Dr J.M. Beck*, Sir J.H. Meiring Beck: A memoir (1921), another was A history of South Africa, from earliest days to union (London, 1915, with 45 maps). His literary merit was recognised in 1938 when the University of Stellenbosch conferred an honorary Doctor of Literature degree on him. 

For further information see:  

https://www.s2a3.org.za/bio/Biograph_final.php?serial=158