Clara in Blunderland signed association copy Caroline Lewis first edition 1903

London: William Heinemann (1903)
 
8vo; in the publisher’s olive green boards with a pictorial cover design showing “Clara” with the unicorn and lion, the picture and lettering in red and black; pp xi, 152; the corners are gently rubbed and the boards have the odd park, there is light foxing on a few pages, the spine webbing is exposed in places throughout the book but the binding is firm and holding well, the contents and list of illustrations pages have been uncut, otherwise it is in very good condition.
 
A first edition of this political parody based on Lewis Carroll’s wonderland. ‘Caroline Lewis’ is a pseudonym for three journalists: Michael Temple, Harold Begbie and J Stafford Ransome. This association copy is scarce as it is signed, most likely by Michael Temple to fellow protagonist Harold Begbie. The inscription on the front free end paper reads “To Harold Begbie, in memory of “Clara in Blunderland” from M.H. Temple and Stafford Ransome.” The inscription is in the same hand, so its most likely Temple signed for both. It is a strong association between the collaborators of this parody. 
 
Begbie was a journalist and author, who publicly disagreed with the Boer War. Temple was a master of satirical verse who had contributed to collections previously, and Stafford Ransome was an illustrator and writer with a keen interest in the political goings on in South Africa. They made quite a team, working together and penned the first in the series “Clara in Blunderland” along with this sequel “Lost in Blunderland”. They also at the same time put together a book called “The Coronation Nonsense Book” in the style of Edward Lear. All three titles sold well, as they looked to cash in on the discontent brewing at the time in the country about the Boer war and the political leadership.
 
In the two Blunderland books, they cast the prime minister Balfour as Clara, Joseph Chamberlain as the red queen, Lord Salisbury as the duchess and Lord Rosebery at the dalmeny cat. A scarce book, with it being an association copy between the authors.