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Editor's Statement

Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Benitacover

Benita, An African Romance combines supernaturalism with romance and a treasure hunt. In this adventure novel the eponymous heroine acts as a clairvoyant to assist in a hunt for Portuguese gold buried in the Transvaal.

Benita was serialized in Cassell's Magazine December 1905 through May 1906, and illustrated by Gordon Browne. The Cassell and Co., London, first edition published, 7 September 1906 featured 16 full-page illustrations by Browne. 15,000 copies printed. Longmans, Green, and Co., New York, published the first US edition under Haggard’s preferred title The Spirit of Bambatse, A Romance in 1906. Longmans used 8 of Browne’s illustrations, 5 are completely different from Cassell’s edition of Benita, and one has a different caption. Cassell’s "'Now good-bye, and go on'" becomes in Longmans, "By way of answer Benita pulled up the horse." Macdonald & Co., London, published an edition of Benita in 1965 illustrated by Hookway Cowles.

Further Reading


Pocock, Tom. Rider Haggard and the Lost Empire. London: Weidenfeld and Nicoloson, 1993. 138.


Whatmore, D.E.. H Rider Haggard: A Bibliography. Westport, CT: Meckler Publishing Co., 1987. F30, 45-46.



Editions of Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Benitacoverthumb
1st UK edition. London: Cassel & Co., 1906.
Thespiritcover
The Spirit of Bambatse, 1st US edition. New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906.
Benitachariot1952dustjacket
1st Edition Thus. London: Chariot Books, 1952.
Benitamacdonaldcover
Macdonald Illustrated Edition. London: Macdonald & Co, 1965.
Spiritofbambatsenewcastle1979dustjacket
1st Edition Thus. Hollywood: Newcastle Publishing Co., 1979.
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine515
Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 5. London: Cassell & Co., April 1906.
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine11
Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 1. London: Cassell & Co., December 1905.
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine275
Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 3. London: Cassell & Co., February 1906.
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine155
Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 2. London: Cassell & Co., January 1906.
Benitacassellsmagazine395
Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 4. London: Cassell & Co., March 1906.
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine641
Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 6. London: Cassell & Co., May 1906.

Illustrations from Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Beholdthecity108
Whoarecassell280
Asshecassellsmagazine647
Benitabenitacassellsmagazine650
Beholdthefrontispiececassellsmagazine169
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine11
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine275
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine515
Afewcassellsmagazine521
Greatheavencassellsmagazine524
Havedonecassellsmagazine517
Shestoodcassellsmagazine529
Sheheldcassellsmagazine533
Lossofcassellsmagazine284
Havedonefrontispiecethumb
Likea42thumb
Shelooked52thumb
Shestood274
Benitaheard204thumb
Heletspirit30
Theretheyspirit88
Helookedspirit216
Afterallcassellsmagazine33
Whitemaidenspirit110
Lossofspirit136
Beholdbeforespirit293
Icancassellsmagazine13
Itsfoamcassellsmagazine29
Heofferedcassellsmagazine34
Nowgoodbye210thumb
Greatheaven254thumb
Benitasaw70thumb
Downdead126thumb
Flyingfromthumb
Meyerwas336thumb
Greatnumbers150thumb
Therethey92thumb
Heletcassellsmagazine17
Ishallcassellsmagazine24
Wehavecassellsmagazine277
Onthecassellsmagazine289
Benitacassellsmagazine395
Shehadcassellsmagazine397
Downdeadcassellsmagazine281
Bywaycassellsmagazine405
Whogavespirit306
Bywayspirit202
Nowbegancassellsmagazine642
Whogavecassellsmagazine652
Nomorecassellsmagazine663
Benitasawcassellsmagazine157
Theretheycassellsmagazine165
Whitemaidencassellsmagazine173
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine641
Beholdbeforefrontispiececassellsmagazine645
Splashingthroughcassellsmagazine649
Meyerwascassellsmagazine657
Noliecassellsmagazine660
Thensuddenlycassellsmagazine160
Benitafrontispiececassellsmagazine275
Atlastcassellsmagazine293
Benitaheardcassellsmagazine400
Heaimedcassellsmagazine408
Helooked226thumb
Helookedcassellsmagazine413
Tobecassellsmagazine416
Theendcassellsmagazine665
Benitamacdonalddustjacket
Benitachariot1952dustjacket
Spiritofbambatsenewcastle1979dustjacket
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