Papers of Elspeth Huxley

This material is held atBodleian Library, University of Oxford

  • Reference
    • GB 161 MSS. Afr. s. 2332
  • Dates of Creation
    • [1929-1996]
  • Language of Material
    • English.
  • Physical Description
    • 3 boxes

Scope and Content

Articles, 1929-1989; correspondence, 1934-1992; information on Kenyan history, 1936-1969; information on Africa (other than Kenya), 1957-1968; sequence of events, Rhodesia, April 1971; book covers, 20th cent.; brochure on the Thames Television series from Euston Films based on The flame trees of Thika..., [1980].

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

A handlist is 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 earlier sets of Elspeth Huxley papers (refs. MSS. Afr. s. 782 and 2154).