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Editor's Statement

The Witch's Head

Thewitchsfrontispiececover

The Witch's Head, the second novel H. Rider Haggard published, is a romance about the dismembered head of an evil African witch doctor. After failing to find a periodical willing to serialize TWH, Haggard agreed to publish with Hurst and Blackett under nearly identical terms as they offered for Haggard's first novel Dawn (1884). Hurst and Blackett, London, published the first edition as an unillustrated triple-decker on 22 December 1884 in a printing of 500 copies. Haggard attributed pirated US copies of TWH to its many favorable reviews (See Days). Messrs. J. and R. Maxwell, London, published a one-volume edition of TWH in May of 1887. This edition featured an illustrated frontispiece by H. French. J. and R. Maxwell’s successors, Spencer Blackett and Hallam, London, issued another edition in 1887 which included a color frontispiece by E. Hume. The 1893 Spencer Blackett and Hallam, London, edition features 16 illustrations by Charles Kerr. Several “business complications” compelled Haggard to finally sell the copyright of TWH to Longmans outright.

Further Reading


Haggard, H. Rider. The Days of My Life, An Autobiography. 2 Vols. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1926. I: 218-219, I: 267-68. Print.


Pocock Tom. Rider Haggard and the Lost Empire. London: Weidenfeld and Nicoloson, 1993. 59. Print.


Whatmore, D.E.. H Rider Haggard: A Bibliography. Westport, CT: Meckler Publishing Co., 1987. F2, 3-5. Print.



Editions of The Witch's Head

Witchsheadmaxwellcover
1st One-Volume UK edition. London: John and Robert Maxwell, 1887.
Thewitchsfrontispiececoverthumb
Twenty-sixth Thousand. London: Spencer Blackett, 1893.
Thewitchsheadnewnescover
1st Edition Thus. London: George Newnes, c. 1906.

Illustrations from The Witch's Head

Thiswas166thumb
Bygeorge44thumb
Ashapely128thumb
Ernestdid224thumb
Thelast262
Mrplowden212thumb
Hefound270thumb
Aftermany300thumb
Madatterleighs342thumb
Mazookusfarewell332thumb
Thewitchsfrontispiecethumb
Heclenched10thumb
Oradiant78thumb
Hughkershaw106thumb
Theresult136thumb
Heslowly194thumb
Shehadmaxwellfrontispiece
Theboersnewnes108
Therewasnewnesfrontispiece
Ernestwasnewnes38
Oldatterleighnewnes51
Evalistenednewnes142
Twoofnewnes169
Hughkershawnewnes72
Hesleptnewnes214
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