Description
Emily Hobhouse: Boer War Letters by Rykie Van Reenen presents a compelling collection of letters written by Emily Hobhouse, the English humanitarian renowned for her work in the concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War. Selected and edited by Hobhouse herself, these letters go beyond her public reputation to reveal her firsthand observations of the civilian experience during wartime, as well as her active engagement in the social and political aftermath in the former Boer republics. The correspondence captures Hobhouse’s character and convictions, offering readers a nuanced portrait of a woman both celebrated and criticised for her humanitarian efforts. Van Reenen provides extensive annotations, notes, and appendices, offering historical context, illustrative anecdotes, and insightful commentary that enrich the letters and make them accessible to modern readers. A generous photographic section complements the text, highlighting key moments in Hobhouse’s life and her work in South Africa.
Awarded the Recht Malan Prize for nonfiction in its first edition, this volume appeals to readers of Africana, biography, and war-time social history, presenting both a vivid historical record and a deeply personal perspective on one of the most controversial figures of the Anglo-Boer War era.
