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The Book of the Heathen: A Novel of the Congo
1897. In an isolated station in the Belgian Congo, an Englishman is to be tried for the murder of a native child. Imprisoned in a makeshift jail, Nicholas Frere awaits the arrival of the Company's official investigator while his friend, James Frasier, attempts to discover the circumstances which surround the charge.
The world around them is rapidly the horrors of the Belgian Congo are becoming known and the flow of its once-fabulous wealth is drying up. Unrest flares unstoppably into violence.
Frere's coming trial will seek to determine considerably more than the killing of a child. But at the heart of this conflict is a secret so dark, so unimaginable, that one man must be willingly destroyed by his possession of it, and the other must both sanction and participate in that destruction.
In a narrative of ever-quickening and growing intensity, The Book of the Heathen explores notions of honor, friendship, justice and reason in a world where men have been forced by circumstance to descend into an abyss of savagery and terror. The Book of the Heathen is a stunning novel that truly evokes a Conradian heart of darkness.
The world around them is rapidly the horrors of the Belgian Congo are becoming known and the flow of its once-fabulous wealth is drying up. Unrest flares unstoppably into violence.
Frere's coming trial will seek to determine considerably more than the killing of a child. But at the heart of this conflict is a secret so dark, so unimaginable, that one man must be willingly destroyed by his possession of it, and the other must both sanction and participate in that destruction.
In a narrative of ever-quickening and growing intensity, The Book of the Heathen explores notions of honor, friendship, justice and reason in a world where men have been forced by circumstance to descend into an abyss of savagery and terror. The Book of the Heathen is a stunning novel that truly evokes a Conradian heart of darkness.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2000
About the author
Robert Edric
37 books30 followersRobert Edric (b. 1956) is the pseudonym of Gary Edric Armitage, a British novelist born in Sheffield.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 15, 2013
1897. In an isolated station in the Belgian Congo, an Englishman is to be tried for the murder of a native child. Imprisoned in a makeshift jail, Nicholas Frere awaits the arrival of the Company's official investigator while his friend, James Frasier, attempts to discover the circumstances which surround the charge.
The world around them is rapidly changing: the horrors of the Belgian Congo are becoming known and the flow of its once-fabulous wealth is drying up. Unrest flares unstoppably into violence.
Frere's coming trial will seek to determine considerably more than the killing of a child. But at the heart of this conflict is a secret so dark, so unimaginable, that one man must be willingly destroyed by his possession of it, and the other must both sanction and participate in that destruction.
In a narrative of ever-quickening and growing intensity, The Book of the Heathen explores notions of honor, friendship, justice and reason in a world where men have been forced by circumstance to descend into an abyss of savagery and terror. The Book of the Heathen is a stunning novel that truly evokes a Conradian heart of darkness.
A hauntingly bleak tale sparsely told portrays English imperialism at its worst. A nightmare world filled with casual cruelties,dark secrets and horrifying truths. Compelling and ultimately unforgettable
The world around them is rapidly changing: the horrors of the Belgian Congo are becoming known and the flow of its once-fabulous wealth is drying up. Unrest flares unstoppably into violence.
Frere's coming trial will seek to determine considerably more than the killing of a child. But at the heart of this conflict is a secret so dark, so unimaginable, that one man must be willingly destroyed by his possession of it, and the other must both sanction and participate in that destruction.
In a narrative of ever-quickening and growing intensity, The Book of the Heathen explores notions of honor, friendship, justice and reason in a world where men have been forced by circumstance to descend into an abyss of savagery and terror. The Book of the Heathen is a stunning novel that truly evokes a Conradian heart of darkness.
A hauntingly bleak tale sparsely told portrays English imperialism at its worst. A nightmare world filled with casual cruelties,dark secrets and horrifying truths. Compelling and ultimately unforgettable
August 29, 2020
This book is set in 1897 in a trading post in the Congo, where the British influence is slowly declining. Captain Frasier is trying to investigate whether his friend, who has been accused of murdering a native child, is guilty. We also follow some side characters like a priest and an influential political player / slave trader.
The writing in this book is so very good. It’s rich with atmosphere and meaning and quite cutting at times. The character of the priest and how he is revealed throughout the book was a masterpiece. I also appreciated all of the moral ambiguities in the novel, which felt realistic for the times. I hadn’t read any Edric before this novel but would certainly read more.
The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars was that the big reveal felt a tad melodramatic.
The writing in this book is so very good. It’s rich with atmosphere and meaning and quite cutting at times. The character of the priest and how he is revealed throughout the book was a masterpiece. I also appreciated all of the moral ambiguities in the novel, which felt realistic for the times. I hadn’t read any Edric before this novel but would certainly read more.
The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars was that the big reveal felt a tad melodramatic.
February 9, 2024
Plot twist becomes a bit late, good descriptive insight.
May 11, 2024
Grim. Didn't want to finish it
February 12, 2008
It's 1897, and the Europeans are in Africa exploiting the people and the country's resources. Most of the action takes place in the station of an unnamed British Company (simply known as "The Company), at a quarry. As the story opens, one of the Englishmen, a Nicholas Frere, has been seized and awaits the Company's official investigator who must look into Frere's alleged killing of a child. The circumstances surrounding the event are at best vague, but Frere will talk to no one, especially his friend James Frasier, about what really happened. Frere had been prone to going off on small excursions alone, to observe and detail life in Africa, and it was during one of these outings that the incident occurred. Frasier is convinced that Frere is innocent and that he is being used as a scapegoat so that the rest of the world can believe that there is actually some sort of justice on behalf of the native populations. This was the time of very vocal, anti-imperialist crusaders such as Roger Casement, who had worked in the Belgian Congo and had witnessed first hand the horrific abuse of the indigenous populations. (If you want a good look at this time period, do NOT miss King Leopold's Ghost, by Adam Hochshild, which goes into great detail.
As the cover blurb states, this book "explores notions of honor, friendship, justice and reason in a world where men have been forced by circumstance to descend into an abyss of savagery and terror." I couldn't have said it any better...so far away from civilization, the book really looks at the darkness that creeps into men's souls...and perhaps the irony of the novel is that the one viewed to be the darkest may have been the best of them all in a situation where human life is dealt with as cheap and expendable all in the name of profit.
I think if I had known about this book when I had my college students read Conrad's Heart of Darkness, I may have also used this book. It is an amazing story, and one you won't soon forget after having read it. I am looking forward to now reading some of Edric's other works.
Who would like this? Anyone who has an interested in this time period and in imperialism at its worst, or anyone who wants something different than the usual stuff in the bookstore shelves. I VERY highly recommend this book.
As the cover blurb states, this book "explores notions of honor, friendship, justice and reason in a world where men have been forced by circumstance to descend into an abyss of savagery and terror." I couldn't have said it any better...so far away from civilization, the book really looks at the darkness that creeps into men's souls...and perhaps the irony of the novel is that the one viewed to be the darkest may have been the best of them all in a situation where human life is dealt with as cheap and expendable all in the name of profit.
I think if I had known about this book when I had my college students read Conrad's Heart of Darkness, I may have also used this book. It is an amazing story, and one you won't soon forget after having read it. I am looking forward to now reading some of Edric's other works.
Who would like this? Anyone who has an interested in this time period and in imperialism at its worst, or anyone who wants something different than the usual stuff in the bookstore shelves. I VERY highly recommend this book.
March 26, 2012
It's the Congo at the end of the 19th century, a European member of staff of a trading station, takes an unauthorised trip into the jungle, he returns, a captive, accused of killing a child. Very gradually we learn what happened in the jungle, it is neither straight forward nor does it reflect well on anyone involved. In fact the whole story, involving the British trading station, a Belgian missionary, an Arab slave trader, and the local population is one of decay and disappointment.There is no happy ending, in fact hardly an ending at all, it is however an interesting journey, even if the destination is a little unsure.
September 28, 2012
Another excellent story from Robert Edric, although not an easy read. Set in a trading station in the Congo at the end of the nineteenth century, the plot revolves around 6 main characters who live and work there. One of their number has been accused of murdering a child and is being held as a prisoner.
They get caught up in the politics and the religion of the time with interference from a local warlord and priest.
Story aside, it is wonderfully evocative of the time and the place. The heat, the rain, the natives and the vastly different moral outloook and actions of the inhabitants (compared with today) make for a fascinating read.
They get caught up in the politics and the religion of the time with interference from a local warlord and priest.
Story aside, it is wonderfully evocative of the time and the place. The heat, the rain, the natives and the vastly different moral outloook and actions of the inhabitants (compared with today) make for a fascinating read.
February 22, 2009
This is the first book I have read by Robert Edric and I will definitely be reading more. It is set in the Congo in 1897 and concerns an Englishman who is charged with killing a native girl, and his friend who tries to find out what really happened. It is a very engrossing story with a fast-moving plot that never gets boring.
January 28, 2017
Dark and atmospheric, I enjoyed most of the book, well written, until about 3/4's through,
when it turned,to me, to be just a horror novel with scenes added for shock value alone. A little over the top for me. Don't let your children read it. However, I am sure the author wanted it this way, as there is good character development and you feel like you are there in the Congo.
when it turned,to me, to be just a horror novel with scenes added for shock value alone. A little over the top for me. Don't let your children read it. However, I am sure the author wanted it this way, as there is good character development and you feel like you are there in the Congo.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews