Classic Writing in eBooks and eBook Classics

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Sandi The Kingmaker - Edgar Wallace This is another book concerned with Mr. Commissioner Sanders and his work in Africa. It is set in the later period of the British Empire, and gives a dramatic (and often humourous) picture of the difficulties of English and European people interacting with a society very different from their own. Sanders is an attractive, sardonic character who goes about his work of civilising and introducing law and order in the best way he knows. He has the solid help of Hamilton, his second-in-command, and the more erratic assistance of the eccentric ‘Bones’, originally Lieutenant Tibbetts. (He got his nickname from his lanky frame.) This is the only ‘full length’ Sanders story, and is set in the time after the Commissioner retires to a married life with Patricia Hamilton, the sister of his second-in-command. He is persuaded to return to Africa to pacify the Old King’s country, now under Britain’s care by virtue of a mandate from the League of Nations; the short-lived predecessor of the United Nations. He takes with him Captain Hamilton, now a Major, and Bones, or Lieutenant Tibbetts, now a Captain. The Old King’s country is still very largely unknown, and Sanders finds an extraordinary state; and there are signs that it is descended from a polity founded by Roman adventurers. It differs in important respects from the old Territories where Sanders spent his career, and many intractable problems, all of which Sanders has to solve before he departs. The inimitable Bosambo makes an appearance, first as a victim of the Old King’s vengeance, and then when Sanders enlists his help in sorting out the crisis of succession. There is the usual amazing mixture of exciting action and humour, and the tension derived from the collision of two very different ways of living and two utterly opposed views of the universe and our places in it. Behind the open opposition to Sanders there lurks the forbidding figure of the Old Woman of Limbi, a threatening combination of priestess and goddess, whose lightest word is obeyed by the locals without question. The action builds to an exciting climax, in which Sanders stakes his life and reputation on a final solution to the country’s troubles. (about 64,000 words) Price: £3.50 Quantity:

Bosambo Of The River - Edgar Wallace This book focuses on Edgar Wallace’s character Bosambo, who plays a prominent part in the tales of Sanders, the Commissioner of the River Territories. Sanders is a British official, who rules a large area of Africa with inadequate resources as well as he is able. It is a book which comes from England’s colonial past, and reflects the realities of the time. Sanders is authoritarian, abrupt, yet basically he respects the people he rules, and strives for their welfare. Bosambo is one of his chiefs; trustworthy in large and important matters, but often devious and self-seeking. The contrast between them makes for interesting tales and often has comic results. Bosambo’s ingenuity in minor theft and dishonesty often serves him well. There is a constant conflict between himself and Sanders. Although Bosambo is basically loyal, his attitudes towards many matters are more ruthless, less honest, and more self-seeking than his master. This difference produces much interest and a great deal of humour. Sanders does not always win where Bosambo is concerned. His favourite chief is too wily for that, and very often Bosambo’s values prevail. The result is a set of tales which are often grim, yet just as often hilariously funny, while Bosambo is a unique character who will stay in the memory long after the tales have been read. (about 60,000 words) Price: £3.50 Quantity:

Keepers Of The King's Peace - Edgar Wallace This a collection of short stories which describe the life and work of a British Administrator (known as a ‘District Commissioner’) in Africa in the early part of this century. Mr. Commissioner Sanders has the difficult job of keeping the peace in a remote area, where his small force of soldiers holds the balance of power between a large number of native chiefs. In these particular stories, Sanders’ work is made more difficult by the existence of his eccentric young subordinate, Lieutenant ‘Bones’ Tibbetts, whose cack-handed enthusiasm and strange hobbies often have unexpected effects. He also has to cope with the presence of Patricia Hamilton, the young sister of his other subordinate, Captain Hamilton, who is a responsibility and a problem, not least because he himself is deeply attracted to her. In the background there is Bosambo, a local chief who is loyal in important things, but often profoundly dishonest in lesser matters – a man in whose presence it is wise to keep a tight grip on one’s wallet. In addition, the conflict of European and African cultures often result in situations which can be amusing or dramatic. The result is that life on the lands dominated by the Great River, where Sanders’ province lies, is sometimes precarious, sometimes comic, but never dull. These stories can be read with pleasure by people of all ages, and will remain in the mind long after the book is finished. (about 54,000 words) Price: £3.00 Quantity:

Beowulf The legend of Beowulf is one that most people have heard of but relatively few have read. Here a translation of the original epic poem is followed by a much simplified prose version of the tales. Perhaps this will help a new generation to become familiar with a story that has its origins in folk tales told by the scalds - the honoured poets of ancient Scandinavia - who went from place to place telling their 'lays', or poems, songs and ballads. Originating in what is now Denmark, the tales of Beowulf (which means 'bee-hunter') reflect the ideals of courage, leadership by example and chivalry. Beowulf is called upon to tackle warring tribes, horrific monsters and, ultimately, his own death; even in our technologically advanced society there is much to be learned from a study of these ancient folk stories. They are no less enjoyable now than they were when they were listened to around fires on cold, Scandinavian winter nights. (about 28,000 words) Price: £2.75 Quantity:

The Prince - Niccolo Machiavelli Rejecting the traditional values of political theory, Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 -1527) drew upon his own experiences of office in the turbulent Florentine republic when he wrote his celebrated treatise on statecraft. While Machiavelli was only one of the many Florentine 'prophets of force', he differed from the ruling elite in recognizing the complexity and fluidity of political life. In insisting that each political situation must be judged individually, Machiavelli became 'the political teacher of Europe'. Machiavelli, it has been said, provided the core of the doctrines of "reason of state" that became the basic political education of modern Europe. (about 31,000 words) Price: £3.00 Quantity:

The Talisman 'The Talisman' is the second of Sir Walter Scott's 'Tales of the Crusades', published in 1825. The talisman of the title has a historical basis in the amulet, known as the Lee-penny, brought back from the Crusades by Sir Simon Lockhart and kept in the possession of his heirs, the Lockharts of the Lee. In Scott's novel the talisman is given to the hero, Sir Kenneth, the Knight of the Leopard, during his adventures in the Holy Land at the time of Richard I. The book was once enormously popular, rivalling Scott's more famous historical romance, 'Ivanhoe'. (about 126,000 words) Price: £5.50 Quantity:

She - H Rider Haggard This book is probably one of the most famous fantasy romances ever written. It is narrated by Holly, an academic in middle age, who undertakes the job of bringing up the child of a friend called Vincey, after his friend has suddenly died. When the child, whose name is Leo, attains the age of twenty-five, he has to open the casket left to him by his father, a casket which contains the details of an astonishing family quest which he has inherited – a quest which is two thousand and more years old. He is asked to journey to a deserted, swamp-ridden area on the coast of Africa, and there to seek out a mysterious queen who lives in a great mountain, a queen who is undying, and who inflicted a terrible wrong on his remote ancestress. Overcome by curiosity, Leo and Holly set out on this journey. To reach their objective, they must risk a horrible death at the hand of a cannibal community who kill strangers in a bizarre and terrible fashion. When they find the queen, “She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed,” they find her to be a formidable woman indeed – immortal in age, wide in knowledge, great in power, a woman who can be deadly and entrancing, cynical and idealistic, all in the space of a breath. She sets her eyes on Leo, and desires him. What follows is even stranger, and he and Holly have to pass through a great ordeal before they return home. This is one of the great stories of the late Victorian age. The tale of this tragically doomed woman, immortal and semi-divine, living in the remote and savage caves amid the ruins of an ancient civilization, caught the imagination of the world, and is still widely remembered. As for the setting, it is compelling and unique – the deserted city, the menacing marshes, and the presence of the sinister Amahagger. To read this book is to enter a completely original and unknown world, which has never been equalled even in an age where fantasy fiction is so prevalent. (about 103,000 words) Price: £4.50 Quantity:

She And Allan - H Rider Haggard The central figures of this novel are Allan Quatermain, who in himself is a wonderful creation – a phlegmatic, down-to-earth, rather dour Englishman to whom extraordinary things happen. He is a trader, often unsuccessful and not always fortunate, who encounters extraordinary people. He is sent on a long journey by Zikali, the witch-doctor, who sends him on a quest of his own. This quest involves Allan in a journey deep into the interior, where an unknown cannibal tribe live in an extinct volcanic crater in the midst of a gigantic swamp. A faction of this tribe kidnap Inez the daughter of a Scots farmer and trader, and Allan finds himself involved in her rescue. This in turn leads to a ferocious battle which he only just survives, and to a meeting with Ayesha, the ruler of a forgotten community. Ayesha, also known as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, is probably one of the most extraordinary characters in the whole of English literature. Not only is she immortal, but she is a completely unique and vivid person, by turns charming, terrifying, intellectual, capricious, cynical and utterly fascinating. Allan is put ‘under contract’ by her to fight and defeat Rezu, the troll-like, invulnerable leader of the cannibals who captured Inez. In this he is aided by Umslopogaas, the fighting Zulu chief who has accompanied him on his journey. In the end, Allan is granted a vision of the ‘land of death’ and the women whom he has loved in his youth, before, returning home. A thrilling and imaginative story which remains in the memory long after it has been finished. (about 121,000 words) Price: £4.50 Quantity:

Ayesha: The Return Of She - H Rider Haggard This book forms the sequel to ‘She’, the first romance which Rider Haggard wrote around the immortal woman whom he named Ayesha. At the tragic end of the first volume, which terminated with the death and disintegration of Ayesha herself, Ayesha promised that she would return. As the readers of this book will discover, she did so, but only after a twenty-year gap did Leo and Holly discover her. Haggard identified with his own work so strongly that he did not write the second book till twenty years had also passed for himself. In this work the character of Ayesha is greatly developed, and she has indeed matured and changed to quite a degree, but still returns her savage, wayward charm and is still capable, when angered, of the same violent, heedless anger. The narrative is, in many ways, even more dramatic and extraordinary than the first. Leo and Holly’s difficulties and suffering in passing through the mountains which hides the remote and unknown country of Kaloon are described extremely vividly, and the splendour of the Mountains of Fire is an even more impressive setting for Ayesha’s court than the caves of Kor. The action, too, is set on a grander scale, culminating in the great battle between the forces of Ayesha and her rival, Khania Atene, which is exciting enough to satisfy the most demanding thrill-seeker. Although the book will more easily understood by those who have already read ‘She,’ this story does stand up well on its own to a remarkable extent. The thrill-seeker will find a feast of action here – but the reader who wants food for thought will find plenty of interesting philosophical discussion and wonderful scenes which light up the imagination. It is not often that both tastes are catered for in the same book. (about 117,000 words) Price: £4.50 Quantity:

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