Laurence, Margaret (1926 - 1987) — The Prophet's Camel Bell [SIGNED] ; [First Edition, First Printing]

Toronto McClelland and Stewart Limited | Printed by Robert Maclehose & Co. Ltd. at University Press, Glasgow First Edition, First Printing pp. [x], 239, [3]. 8vo., measuring 5.5" x 8.75" [210 x 136mm]. Publisher's lovely bright red cloth over board, gilt lettering to the spine. One black-and-white map, and rich with many black-and-white photographs, portraits, illustrations, etc. No detectable flaws to the cloth extremities, slight spine slant, corner of ffep neatly excised, else, contents equally without blemish with bright, clean, and unmarked pages and tight, sound binding; near fine and housed in near-immaculate dustjacket (now housed in protective mylar cover). Overall, very good+, to, near fine. See Spadoni & Donnelly, Citation #1676: "A Bibliography of McClelland and Stewart Imprints, 1909-1985" (#1676, p. 405). SIGNED by the author to the title page. In 1950, as a young bride, Margaret Laurence set out with her engineer husband to what was then Somaliland: a British protectorate in North Africa few Canadians had ever heard of. Her account of this voyage into the desert is full of wit and astonishment. Laurence honestly portrays the difficulty of colonial relationships and the frustration of trying to get along with Somalis who had no reason to trust outsiders. There are moments of surprise and discovery when Laurence exclaims at the beauty of a flock of birds only to discover that they are locusts, or offers medical help to impoverished neighbors only to be confronted with how little she can help them. During her stay, Laurence moves past misunderstanding the Somalis and comes to admire memorable individuals: a storyteller, a poet, a camel-herder. The Prophet’s Camel Bell is both a fascinating account of Somali culture and British colonial characters, and a lyrical description of life in the desert.