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Something Of Value, by Robert Ruark (RARE, First Edition), 1955 🐘🌍📜

Name: Something Of Value, by Robert Ruark (RARE, First Edition), 1955 🐘🌍📜
Brand: Wall Antiques
Price: 85.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$85.00

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1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a very rare First Edition of Something Of Value, an epic novel by Robert Ruark.

Published by Doubleday & Company in 1955, this influential work is set against the turbulent backdrop of the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya.

This book is a very scarce literary artifact that delves into a complex chapter of colonial history. It is a cornerstone for collectors of mid-century American literature and post-colonial studies due to its:

First Edition status from a major American publisher.
Controversial and direct narrative that directly reflects a pivotal historical period.

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Something of Value is a compelling and often unsettling narrative that explores the intricate conflict between British colonial settlers and the indigenous Kikuyu people.

The story interweaves the lives of two childhood friends—one a white settler's son, the other a Kikuyu man—who find themselves on opposing sides of the uprising. Ruark's direct narrative explores themes of colonialism, cultural clashes, loyalty, and betrayal.

The novel offers a controversial and often graphic portrayal of these historical events, and its vivid descriptions immerse the reader in the heart of this tumultuous period.

3. About the Author ✍️🏛️✨

Robert Ruark was a prolific American novelist, journalist, and big-game hunter. He was celebrated for his vivid and often contentious depictions of Africa. His achievements include crafting popular novels and memoirs that captured his unique experiences and perspectives on hunting and wilderness.

Ruark's writing style was characterized by its directness, powerful descriptive prose, and a willingness to confront difficult subjects. While his work has garnered praise for its storytelling, it has also faced criticism for its racial attitudes.

Nevertheless, Ruark's books were influential in shaping Western perceptions of Africa during the mid-20th century.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1955, this novel appeared during a period of decolonization and intense conflict in Africa, particularly the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya. Ruark's work, though a novel, became a significant part of the contemporary public discourse on colonialism and racial conflict. It is an artifact that reflects the perspectives and societal tensions of the time, making it a key document for historians and scholars of post-colonial studies.

This novel captures a specific cultural and historical moment. It was published at a time when the Western world was grappling with the end of its colonial empires. The novel’s unflinching portrayal of violence and rebellion resonated with a public that was both fascinated and disturbed by the rapid changes happening in Africa.

The book serves as a "time capsule" that documents the public’s perspective on the complexities of race, power, and loyalty during this turbulent era.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This volume is for a curator of mid-century American literature, a scholar of post-colonial studies, or a private collector of books on African decolonization. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book's intellectual and historical significance.

The book speaks directly to a buyer who is a historian at heart, and appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of literature, history, and social commentary.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This 1955 First Edition of Something Of Value is a highly valuable and collectible item. Its primary value lies in being a first edition of a controversial and influential novel that directly engaged with the realities of the Mau Mau Uprising.

For historians and scholars, it serves as a contemporary account that reflects the perspectives of the time. For collectors of mid-century American literature, this novel holds a key place as an unflinching portrayal of violence and the human cost of rebellion. Its First Edition status from a major American publisher makes it a desirable modern collectible.

The book is approximately 70 years old, a testament to its survival.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This book is a used hardcover edition without a dust jacket.

Binding: The binding shows visible wear consistent with its age, including rubbing, scuffing, and some discoloration to the boards. The spine shows some wear and fading.
Interior: A page inside is noted to be wrinkled. The pages are age-toned but remain clear and legible.
Inscription: A handwritten inscription is on the front endpaper.

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

This book contains a personal inscription that transforms it into a singular historical artifact. The inscription provides a direct, verifiable link to the book's history. It reveals the book's journey to a specific individual and a specific date.

Transcription: The handwritten inscription on the front endpaper reads: "James B Kelly, May 2011".

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

Something of Value was adapted into a major motion picture in 1957, starring Rock Hudson and Dana Wynter.
The author, Robert Ruark, was a celebrated big-game hunter and his personal experiences in Africa heavily influenced his writing.
The novel's publication sparked a public debate on the nature of colonialism and the Mau Mau Uprising, which was still ongoing at the time of the book's release.
The book's title is derived from a proverb that suggests "you can take something of value from a country, but you must give something of value back."