The Story of an African Farm - 1883

London: Chapman and Hall, 1883. First Edition. Near Fine. First edition, first printing of what is widely recognized as one of the first feminist novels. Near Fine with light rubbing to binding, pages toned and with occasional instances of light spotting. Finely bound in full black ostrich skin by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, mirroring the book's setting on an ostrich farm. At the time of publication, the South African ostrich farming industry was rapidly developing to meet a craze for the high demand of ostrich feathers, with their weight-price approaching that of gold's. The industry's rise brought about much cruelty and suffering for ostriches, and the novel highlights the crossover among the contemporary leading activists of women's rights movement and the champions of animal rights. Published under a male pseudonym of Ralph Iron, this was Scheiner's first novel and was met with immediate success. A complex narrative woven around themes of cruelty and restriction, set against a colonial backdrop. It's notable for the main female character's handling of themes of love, marriage and motherhood, while subverting the traditional gender roles, female sexuality and intellectual power. Published under a male pseudonym of Ralph Iron, this was Scheiner's first novel and was met with immediate success. A complex narrative woven around themes of cruelty and restriction, set against a colonial backdrop. It's notable for the main female character's handling of themes of love, marriage and motherhood, while subverting the traditional gender roles, female sexuality and intellectual power.