Optimists In Africa By John Creasey
Optimists In Africa (First Edition - The Author's First Non-Fiction Work)
An Illuminating, Witty, and Unabashedly Positive Chronicle of Mid-Century Southern African Travel
An Illuminating, Witty, and Unabashedly Positive Chronicle of Mid-Century Southern African Travel
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Optimists In Africa
- Author: John Creasey
- Publisher: Howard Timmins, Cape Town
- Publication Date: 1963
- Edition Details: First Edition, First Printing. Explicitly notable as the prolific master-novelist's very first venture into full-length non-fiction writing.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium textured cloth boards with contrasting title typography to the spine; complete with original illustrated dust jacket.
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 136 pages. Richly enhanced with a central suite of independent monochrome photographic plates documenting the author’s regional travels.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
-
The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Boards: The original cloth boards remain remarkably square, rigid, and sound. Displays only microscopic trace rubbing to the outer edges from shelf placement, completely normal for a vintage mid-century release. The spine is unbowed, upright, and structurally flawless.
- Interior: The internal text block is tight, robustly bound, and wonderfully clean. The pages and historical photographic inserts are completely intact, bright, and free of modern highlights, text underlining, dog-ears, or thumb marks.
- Provenance: Pristine collector's state; entirely free of previous owner signatures, institutional stamps, or dealer pencil marks.
- Protection: Kept pristine and safely enclosed within a custom archival-grade protective cellophane sleeve.
-
The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition: A well-preserved example that remains bright and complete. Shows limited signs of historic wear, including minor edge friction and micro-creasing along the head and foot of the spine panel, consistent with careful archival housing over the decades. Free of prominent chips, large tears, or sun fading.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published by the legendary Howard Timmins in Cape Town in 1963, Optimists In Africa stands out as a highly unique title within the massive bibliography of John Creasey. Having received massive publicity during his historic journey through Southern Africa, the world-famous crime novelist set aside his fictional detectives to pen a witty, illuminating, and intensely personal diary of his experiences.
Deliberately breaking away from the standard political critiques common among visiting foreign authors of the 1960s, Creasey presents an unapologetically pro-South African visual and cultural appreciation. The text is uniquely expanded by a standalone chapter written by his wife, Jean, providing a distinct perspective on mid-century African hosting and local traditions. Offering an immersive glimpse into the social life of late colonial-era Southern Africa, this rare out-of-print travelogue serves as a vital historical time capsule for serious collectors of mid-century Africana and British literary history alike.
Author Profile: John Creasey
John Creasey (1908–1973) is recognized by the Guinness World Records as one of the most prolific writers in literary history, publishing over 560 books under more than 20 distinct pseudonyms. Best known as the grandmaster of British crime fiction and the creator of legendary series characters like Commander George Gideon, The Toff, and Inspector West, Creasey was also a dedicated global traveller, philanthropist, and founder of the UK Crime Writers' Association. His descriptive mastery and sharp observational skills seamlessly transitioned into non-fiction, making his rare travel chronicles highly sought after by modern book dealers.
Optimists in Africa John Creasey, Howard Timmins 1963 first edition, rare John Creasey travel books, collectible non fiction John Creasey, vintage South African travel memoirs, out of print mid century Africana hardcovers.
