THE BLANKET; A Novel

New York: The Vanguard Press, 1957. First Edition. Cloth and boards. Fine/Fine. 8vo, black cloth with gold and silver lettering on spine over textured black boards, Mylar-protected zigzag-striped dust jacket (unclipped), 192 pages. Author Audrey Alison Murray spent many years in Basutoland, South Africa. Bookplate of Paul & Laura Bohannan. Laura Bohannan (1922-2002) pen name Elenore Smith Bowen, was an American cultural anthropologist best known for her 1961 article, "Shakespeare in the Bush." Bohannan also wrote Tiv Economy, with her husband, and Return to Laughter, a novel. These works were based on travels and work in Africa. In The Blanket, "the clash between primitive Africa and civilized justice in tellingly illustrated when Chief Phimri orders his second son Lepontane and some of his tribe to perform the brutal ritual murder of an enemy. The intended victim, warned by his mistress, tricks Phimri's eldest son and he is murdered. Horrified, Lepontane tells the truth and becomes a King's witness, not realizing this gives him amnesty. Phimri and the murderers are hung and Lepontane, knowing the grief the old customs have brought to himself and his people, plans to be a chief according to civilized justice which seems to him the only humane way to live. Short, dramatic, and simple, this book is both timely and timeless in its theme and presentation.--Kirkus Review SCARCE novel dealing with the "clash between primitive African and civilized justice." Robert Travers--author of Anatomy of a Murder--said this was a "haunting first novel by an awesomely talented new voice...." EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION internally & externally! Inventory number upper right corner of free front endpaper. EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION.