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F.R. Statham's “Mr Magnus”: A Forgotten Novel of Cecil Rhodes
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 April 2022
Extract
In her novel of Rhodes, Manly virtues, Anne Harries rightly refers to Rhodes's dislike of Olive Schreiner's Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland. What is less well-known is that there was another novel of Rhodes written at this time, which he must have disliked just as much, if not more so. Indeed there is some evidence that he acted to suppress it. The Bodleian Library never received it under legal deposit, and the Library at Rhodes House was only able to acquire a copy through the second hand trade in 1929; this copy has the author's name cut out of the title page, and the words “was suppressed” written on the inside front cover. The copy in the Library of the University of Cape Town bears the additional information “all copies called in”. It remains a work of considerable rarity today.
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- Copyright © International African Institute 2005
References
Notes
1 See announcement in The Bookseller, 3 July 1896, p.674. The first edition was published anonymously; Statham's name appeared for the first time on the second edition, which was announced as ‘just ready’ in The Bookseller, 6 November 1896, p.1206. T. Fisher Unwin was also the publisher of Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland.
2 F.R. Statham. My life's record: a fight for justice (London: Gibbings, 1901), pp.190-191.
3 Saturday Review, 19 September 1896, p.326.
4 Kimberley Independent, 16 September 1892.
5 Ibid, 26 September 1892.
6 Ibid, 19 September 1892.
7 Ibid, 17 September 1892. The Biblical reference is to Acts 14, 11-13: ‘And when the people saw what Paul had done they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.’
8 F.R. Statham. My life's record, p.165.
9 Ibid.
10 For Statham's biography see F.R. Statham My life's record: a fight for justice (London: Gibbings, 1901) and the Dictionary of South African Biography, vol. xx, pp.768-9.
11 S.P.H. Statham. The descent of the family of Statham (London: Times Book Company, 1925), pp.80-81.
12 Liverpool Daily Post, 29 November, 4,5 and 14 December 1865.
13 South Africa, vol. 77, no. 1003 (14 March 1908), p.703.
14 P.R.O. Colonial Office files CO 179/144.
15 Hansard, 3rd series, vol. 278, p.1058.
16 Frances Colenso to F.W. Chesson, 23 July 1884 (Rhodes House Library. Anti-Slavery Society papers. Mss. Brit.Emp. s.18, file C130/40). I am grateful to Dr. H.C. Swaisland for drawing my attention to this correspondence.
17 Ibid, 27, November 1883 (file C130/38).
18 F.R. Statham. South Africa as it is (London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1897), pp.196-197, 202.
19 P.R.O. Colonial Office files CO 417/312.
20 Even this event involved Statham in conflict and controversy for he fell out with the conductor during rehearsals, claiming that the piano accompanist was not up to the job. He was subsequently barred from the rehearsals and made an unsuccessful attempt to have the performance cancelled. See the acrimonious correspondence reprinted in the Kimberley Independent, 10 September 1892. The pianist is not named, but one wonders whether she was Mrs. Lord and whether it was this event which prompted Statham to take his revenge on her in Mr. Magnus.
21 South Africa, vol. 77, no. 1003 (14 March 1908), p.703.