Olive Schreiner

Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) was a South African author, feminist, and social critic best known for her groundbreaking novel *The Story of an African Farm* (1883), published under the pseudonym Ralph Iron, which challenged Victorian norms and explored themes of feminism and colonialism. Born to missionary parents in the Cape Colony, she self-educated herself while working as a governess and became a prominent voice against imperialism, racism, and for women's rights through works like *Woman and Labour* (1911). Her activism extended to pacifism, socialism, and support for the Boers during the South African War, making her a key figure in early 20th-century progressive thought.