Description
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Author: Roland Oliver, M.A., Ph.D.
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Publisher: Longmans, Green & Co. Ltd.
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Edition: Second Edition (new impression)
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Date of Publication: 1966
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Place of Publication (Biblio): London
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Format: Paperback
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Page Count: approx. 302 pages, including maps, bibliography, and index
Condition
Very Good paperback.
Clean interior with no writing or markings. Moderate age toning and light edge wear consistent with academic paperbacks of this period. Spine intact and square; covers show light rubbing but remain sound and presentable.
Description
The Missionary Factor in East Africa is a landmark work in African historiography, exploring the decisive—often unintended—role Christian missions played in shaping East Africa’s social, political, and educational development during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Roland Oliver examines missionary activity not as isolated religious effort, but as a powerful catalyst in the region’s transformation—intersecting with colonial administration, local governance, language, education, and emerging African Christian communities. His analysis remains valued for its clarity, balance, and deep archival grounding, making this book essential reading for students and readers of African history, colonial studies, religious history, and the history of education.
Decades after publication, the book continues to be cited for its nuanced understanding of how missionary networks influenced both African societies and European imperial strategy—often in ways missionaries themselves did not foresee.
Collector / Association Copy Notes — Doane Perry Collection
This copy comes from the Doane Perry Collection, adding meaningful scholarly provenance. Perry was a noted academic whose library reflects serious engagement with African history, religion, and cultural exchange. Association copies such as this are especially valued by collectors, researchers, and institutions interested in the intellectual lineage of African studies in the mid- to late-20th century.