作者: Gertrude Page

Gertrude Page (1872–1922) was a renowned British author, often hailed as the “Kipling of Rhodesia” for her prolific work set in colonial Africa. Born in Erdington, Birmingham, Page moved to Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, with her husband in the early 1890s where she found inspiration for her writing amid the backdrop of the British colonial experience. Her literary output was significant and included romance novels that frequently intertwined with themes of colonial life and the experiences of settlers. Her most prominent work, “Paddy-The-Next-Best-Thing” (1912), showcased her ability to capture the complexities of human relationships against the challenges of frontier life. The book was later adapted into a play and subsequently into several films, attesting to its popularity and the enduring interest in Page”s storytelling. Despite the vast geographical and cultural distances her works may now seem to hail from, Page”s keen observations of people and place have secured her a lasting position in the annals of early 20th-century literature. Her work not only reflects the colonial attitudes of her time but also offers insights into the changing dynamics of gender and social status during the era.