From Library Journal
Here's a historical novel from Smith (When the Lion Feeds, Audio Reviews, LJ 5/15/98) that listeners should love: it's full of adventure, romance, sex, blood, and gore and set in central and southern Africa and on the surrounding high seas about 1860. Robyn and Zouga Ballantyne set out to make their fortunes selling memoirs of their trek across Africa in search of their father, famous missionary/explorer Fuller Ballantyne, who has been out of contact with his British mission board for some eight years. Major Zouga, on leave from his regiment in India, hopes to augment his fortune with ivory and gold, while Dr. Robyn wants to spread the Gospel and find her place in the world. Incidentally, lots of good, imaginative stuff on sailing, African geography, flora and fauna, safari, African peoples, naval combat, elephant hunting, and the slave trade flow through the book as well. Explicit descriptions of inhumane treatment of persons of all classes, diseases, injuries, and surgery of the times may be a problem for some listeners. Excellently read by Stephen Thorne and well produced and packaged, this is recommended highly for adult collections.
Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OHCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Audio Cassette
edition.
Ingram
the first book of the Ballantyne series, this novel tells the story of one family's conquest of the untamed lands of Africa. Searching for the father they barely remember, Zouga and Dr. Robyn Ballantyne board Mungo St. John's clipper and head for Africa. Long before they reach Africa, a love-hate relationship develops and fate takes control. Available in September.
