THE KESSINGLAND CONNECTION IN THE LIFE AND WORK OF RIDER HAGGARD

by Maureen Long

A5, 16pp, glossy paper, illustated in colour, and black and white. £2.95 plus 50p postage (UK) - Available from Mrs M Long, 52 London Road, Kessingland, Nr Lowestoft, NR33 7PW.

Maureen Long is the editor of "The Kessingland Times" and is the Rider Haggard Society's social organiser. As she lives in Rider Haggard country, she is ideally located for Haggard research and for organising meetings for the Society. She has several meetings for the Society to her belt, and these have been in Kessingland, Ditchingham and Bradenham, the three villages associated with Haggard.

This charming and delightful book begins with the famous bet his brother placed on Rider Haggard, and goes on to describe his life, concentrating on the periods he spent at his cliff-top summer house, the Grange, at Kessingland. This dwelling was demolished to make way for holiday chalets, but Maureen has managed to include much on what Haggard achieved at Kessingland, besides writing. For instance, Kessingland cliffs owes their resistance to coastal erosion to Haggard's efforts. For the rest of the year, Haggard lived at Ditchingham, and this book also includes much illustrated material concerning this home and the nearby church, where his ashes lie.