A Lady’s Letters from the Front.
First edition. Frontispiece and 15 photographic plates. 8vo. Original decorative cloth, some minor staining to upper board, ownership inscription to front free endpaper, several pages creased. [viii], 9-133, [3ads]pp. London, John Long, 1901.
Scarce. The author was prompted to publish these letters to Lady Fraser by “too much irresponsible lay criticism of matters military and medical in South Africa.” Not that this prevents her from venting her own frustration at the disorganisation in the army she encounters, well-read and intelligent she freely offers her opinions: “Modder River. I saw the great open coverless flat the troops advanced over. I am not a soldier, and don’t know the reasons, but it looked to me about as fatally chosed as a place could well be. Heaps of cover for the enemy and absolutely none for us within range of their rifles.” Her colourful, keenly observed anecdotes are augmented by the photographic plates and include meeting the explorer Dr Carl Peters.
