SUDAN VERSE

CHANCERY BOOKS
1963

First edition.
These verses are selected from a collection made over the years by A. C. Beaton, K. D. D. Henderson and T. R. H. Owen, The full corpus, unexpurgated and unpruned, will be deposited one day in the Sudan archives at Durham for the historian of the future to shake his head over. The compilers have tried to make their selection as widely representative as possible. If some Provinces seem to have more than their fair share of items, it is only because they were more prolific in poesy.

Presumably it is nearly all ephemeral. Yet to an historian a hundred years hence, even puzzled by lost allusions, it will be of more value than fifty official documents, for it reveals the real human processes of government, not the facade. We feel that it should not all go into permanent limbo, and have had the selection printed in the hopes that many of those who served the Sudan may still find enjoyment in it.

From any victims of their colleagues' rudery we pray forgiveness. For the occasional coarseness (inseparable from ribald verse) we apologize. To those satirists, poets and doggerel bards whose work is included we are grateful. (From the Foreword)

21 x 14 cm. 67 pp. With additional verse loosely inserted.

Very good condition. Cover foxed. Name of one author crossed out and ‘Anon’ added. Staples starting to rust.