Emily Hobhouse Tant' Alie of TransvaalHobhouse worked on the manuscript of this book for many years;

Hobhouse worked on the manuscript of this book for many years; ironically the work was interrupted by the World War 1 and published for the first time in 1923. As the preface states:

'It has long been my dream to see issued a range of such books from all lands stretching back to all ages, recording war from the standpoint of women and children; those passive but heroic figures massed obscurely in the background of every war, but ultimately bearers of its worst and most long-lasting burdens.'

Alie Badenhorst certainly witnessed war at its worst. As the dates suggest the early part of the book is an account of her life on her farm. When the war began she was rounded up with her family and marched to Klerksdorp concentration camp where 1495 women and children perished under the British. This first hand account is a moving testament to her bravery and stoicism in the face of starvation and disease.

Externally the book is in very good condition indeed, barely rubbed and clean all over. The binding of the boards is strong. Internally it is clean with a few marks here and there; the binding of the text block is opening in a few places but remains generally strong.