
Prester John is a rollicking adventure tale. It tells of the experiences of a young Scotsman who travels to South Africa at the dawn of the 20th century to make his fortune in the wild plains of an untamed country. Part mystery, part travelogue, part spy novel, part treasure hunt, it has all the makings of a crackling good read. It is firm proof that John Buchan (The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, and so many other novels of intrigue) remains a storyteller of the first order. His writing style is fresh and compelling.The events transpire in a critical time South African history, just as the Dutch are about to lose control of Transvaal to the British, but the focus of the story is not on the Dutch or the British. They merely serve as the backdrop for the real action, the arrival of a charismatic black leader, John Laputa, who vows to unite all of Africa under him. Heralding himself the rightful heir of Prester John, the legendary medieval King of Ethiopia said to be a descendant of one of the three Magi. Laputa uses the Prester John myth to rally his forces and fuel his insurgency, but in the end it becomes a case of spears and shields versus bolt-action rifles.This is not Laputa's narrative, however. The story belongs to young Mr. David Crawfurd, of Kirkcaple, Scotland. As a stranger in a strange land Crawfurd must draw on his inner strength and resources to survive the explosive conflict around him. Prester John is a top-notch adventure story, full of daring heroes and wondrous villainsa forgotten gem of early 20th Century literature.
- PRESTER JOHN
- by
- JOHN BUCHAN
- TO LIONEL PHILLIPS
- CONTENTS
- CHAPTER I
- THE MAN ON THE KIRKCAPLE SHORE
- CHAPTER II
- FURTH! FORTUNE!
- CHAPTER III
- BLAAUWILDEBEESTEFONTEIN
- CHAPTER IV
- MY JOURNEY TO THE WINTER-VELD
- CHAPTER V
- MR WARDLAW HAS A PREMONITION
- CHAPTER VI
- THE DRUMS BEAT AT SUNSET
- CHAPTER VII
- CAPTAIN ARCOLL TELLS A TALE
- CHAPTER VIII
- I FALL IN AGAIN WITH THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA
- CHAPTER IX
- THE STORE AT UMVELOS'
- CHAPTER X
- I GO TREASURE-HUNTING
- CHAPTER XI
- THE CAVE OF THE ROOIRAND
- CHAPTER XII
- CAPTAIN ARCOLL SENDS A MESSAGE
- CHAPTER XIII
- THE DRIFT OF THE LETABA
- CHAPTER XIV
- I CARRY THE COLLAR OF PRESTER JOHN
- CHAPTER XV
- MORNING IN THE BERG
- CHAPTER XVI
- INANDA'S KRAAL
- CHAPTER XVII
- A DEAL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
- CHAPTER XVIII
- HOW A MAN MAY SOMETIMES PUT HIS TRUST IN A HORSE
- CHAPTER XIX
- ARCOLL'S SHEPHERDING
- CHAPTER XX
- MY LAST SIGHT OF THE REVEREND JOHN LAPUTA
- CHAPTER XXI
- I CLIMB THE CRAGS A SECOND TIME
- CHAPTER XXII
- A GREAT PERIL AND A GREAT SALVATION
- CHAPTER XXIII
- MY UNCLE'S GIFT IS MANY TIMES MULTIPLIED
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