South Africa in Mars.

LAMONT, Archibald.

$1,500.00

Item Number: 147982

London: Grant Richards LTD, 1923.

First edition of this satirical science fiction novel. Octavo, original cloth. In good condition. Rare.

​Archibald Lamont (1864–1933) was a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister, social activist, and politician who served as the mayor of Durban, South Africa, from 1929 until his death in 1933. Prior to his political career, Lamont spent time in Singapore and Malaya between 1889 and 1898, engaging in various literary pursuits. His 1923 satirical novel, South Africa in Mars, presents a posthumous narrative set on Mars, where the protagonist encounters notable historical figures such as William Shakespeare and Cecil Rhodes. The novel employs this fantastical setting to critique contemporary South African society, reflecting Lamont's liberal views on race and social issues.