The Induna's Wife by Bertram Mitford is a historical drama set in colonial South Africa, vividly exploring the cultural and tribal conflicts of the era. The novel centers on a romance that unfolds against the backdrop of British colonialism and the intricate interactions between indigenous cultures and colonial settlers. The story delves into the complexities of life in colonial South Africa, focusing on the experiences of the induna (a tribal leader) and his wife. Mitford crafts a narrative rich in adventure and romance, capturing the tensions and dynamics of the time. Through its depiction of tribal conflict and cultural exchanges, the book offers readers a nuanced view of the colonial era. Mitford’s work provides a blend of historical detail and personal drama, illustrating the impact of colonialism on indigenous societies while highlighting the human stories entwined with these larger historical forces.
Bertram Mitford FRGS (13 June 1855-4 October 1914) was a colonial writer, novelist, essayist, and cultural critic who published forty-four books, the majority of which were set in South Africa. He was a contemporary of H Rider Haggard. He was a Mitford family member and the third son of Edward Ledwich Osbaldeston Mitford (1811-1912). In 1895, he became the 31st Lord of the Manor of Mitford, succeeding his brother Colonel John Philip Osbaldeston Mitford. He died in 1912 at Mitford Hall in Northumberland. Bertram Mitford was born in Bath in 1855, educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex, traveled to southern Africa in 1874, lived in Cheltenham in 1881, married Zima Helen Gentle, daughter of Alfred Ebden, on March 9, 1886 in Brighton, had daughter Yseulte Helen on June 3, 1887 (died July 1969), son Roland Bertram on June 17, 1891 (died April 16, 1932), lived in London in 1891, and died of liver disease in 1914 in Cowfold, Sussex. He belonged to four London clubs: The Junior Athenaeum, Savage, the New Vagabond, and the Wigwam.
