Oriental Crime by H. L. Adam (c.1908)

Oriental Crime by H. L. Adam. This copy features a fascinating historical intersection between 20th-century sensationalist British true crime and the political elite of colonial South Africa.

Ex Libris Sir James Liege Hulett

The armorial bookplate identifies the book's owner as The Hon. Sir James Liege Hulett, Kt., J.P.

The Sugar King of Natal: Sir Liege Hulett (1838–1928) was a towering figure in South African history. He founded Sir J.L. Hulett & Sons, the massive sugar processing empire (known today as Tongaat Hulett), which shaped the agricultural, economic, and social landscape of KwaZulu-Natal.

Political Heavyweight: Beyond business, Hulett was a major political player. He served as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Colony of Natal and later as the Minister for Native Affairs.

A Curious Juxtaposition of Taste

The contrast between the book's content and its owner's stature provides a rare glimpse into a prominent historical figure's private reading habits:

The Book: Published in 1908 by T. Werner Laurie, Oriental Crime was written by Hargrave Lee Adam, a prolific English journalist who specialized in vivid, reportorial true crime accounts. Despite its sweeping title, the text focuses almost exclusively on sensationalized accounts of criminal underworlds, thuggery, and legal systems in colonial India.

145mm x 220mm x 45mm

Boards etc worn; minor foxing throughout.

R1,250