Papers of Elspeth Huxley, [1902-1959]

This material is held atBodleian Library, University of Oxford

  • Reference
    • GB 161 MSS. Afr. s. 782
  • Dates of Creation
    • [1902-1959]
  • Language of Material
    • English.
  • Physical Description
    • 4 boxes

Scope and Content

Miscellaneous background papers relating to White Man's Country: Lord Delamere and the making of Kenya, etc. (London, Macmillan and Co., 1935), 1902-1934; miscellaneous background papers relating to The Sorcerer's Apprentice. A journey through East Africa (London, Chatto & Windus, 1948); miscellaneous background papers relating to No easy way. A history of the Kenya Farmers' Association and Unga Limited (Nairobi, East African Standard, [1957]; miscellaneous backround papers relating to A New Earth. An experiment in colonialism (London, Chatto & Windus, 1960).

Administrative / Biographical History

Elspeth Josceline Huxley (1907-1997) took the post of Assistant Press Officer to the Empire Marketing Board, London in 1929. After leaving the Board in 1932 she travelled widely in Africa, America and elsewhere. During this period she published her first book, White Man's Country: Lord Delamere and the making of Kenya, etc. (London, Macmillan and Co., 1935). Since then she has produced a number of novels and factual works with African settings, including The flame trees of Thika. memoirs of an African childhood (London, Chatto and Windus, 1959). She has also contributed a great deal on African affairs to both press and radio. She was a member of the BBC General Advisory Council from 1952 until 1959 when she was appointed U.K. Independent Member of the Advisory Commission for the Review of the Constitution of the Federation of Rhodesia (Monckton Commission).

Access Information

Bodleian reader's ticket required.

Note

Collection level description created by Paul Davidson, Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House.

Other Finding Aids

Listed as no. 189 in Manuscript Collections of Africana in Rhodes House Library Oxford, compiled by Louis B. Frewer (Oxford, Bodleian Library, 1968). A handlist is also available in the library reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

No reproduction or publication of personal papers without permission. Contact the library in the first instance.

Related Material

The library holds two later sets of Elspeth Huxley papers (refs. MSS. Afr. s. 2154 and 2332).