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Sanders of the River #6
The Keepers of the King's Peace
'I want you to go up the Isango, Bones, ' said Sanders, 'there may be some trouble there - a woman is working miracles.' Unexpected things happen in the territories of the Belgian Congo where Commissioner Sanders keeps an uneasy peace, aided by his trusty assistant Lieutenant Hamilton and hindered, unintentionally, by the trouble-prone Bones. He must deal with 'ju-ju', 'religious-palava', lost vials of virulent disease...and all the while Bosambo, the magnificent king of the Ochori, watches on.
180 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1917
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,257 books265 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 10, 2021
I saw this in a second hand bookshop and was so taken by the cover I convinced my friend Jo to buy it. Later I stole it from her. The cover shows five men. Three of them white. One pith helmet apiece. One has a monocle. Another has a revolver and a baton under his arm. The other two men are black. One has a spear. The other has two sticks with human skulls on them. Surprisingly, the book isn’t at all racist.
Only joking. It’s as racist as you could believe. This from page 118:
‘Native folk, at any rate, are but children of a larger growth. In the main, their delinquencies may be classified under the heading of “naughtiness.” They are mischievous and passionate, and they have a weakness for destroying things to discover the secrets of volition.”
What we have here are twelve connected short stories, comic adventures, set in a sanitised fantasy version of colonial Africa. Our hero is Bones, bumbling and British, but terribly brave. The plot of most of the stories involves him setting out on an expedition to save the natives from themselves.
Is it any good? Well, that second star is for the cover. It not quality literature. There are numerous small problems that could have been resolved if Mr Wallace had deigned to do a second draft. He’s obviously planned out what he’s going to write, but the beginnings are often a mess. You can see him gathering his thoughts on paper. The are some funny moments, but it’s bad dad-jokes really. It does have historical interest and I would recommend it if you are:
a) studying colonial history
b) studying early 20th Century British social attitudes
c) a massive racist
Actually, strike c). It’s concerns and attitudes are so far from the mores of modern racists that I think we shall just have to consign it to history.
Only joking. It’s as racist as you could believe. This from page 118:
‘Native folk, at any rate, are but children of a larger growth. In the main, their delinquencies may be classified under the heading of “naughtiness.” They are mischievous and passionate, and they have a weakness for destroying things to discover the secrets of volition.”
What we have here are twelve connected short stories, comic adventures, set in a sanitised fantasy version of colonial Africa. Our hero is Bones, bumbling and British, but terribly brave. The plot of most of the stories involves him setting out on an expedition to save the natives from themselves.
Is it any good? Well, that second star is for the cover. It not quality literature. There are numerous small problems that could have been resolved if Mr Wallace had deigned to do a second draft. He’s obviously planned out what he’s going to write, but the beginnings are often a mess. You can see him gathering his thoughts on paper. The are some funny moments, but it’s bad dad-jokes really. It does have historical interest and I would recommend it if you are:
a) studying colonial history
b) studying early 20th Century British social attitudes
c) a massive racist
Actually, strike c). It’s concerns and attitudes are so far from the mores of modern racists that I think we shall just have to consign it to history.
August 14, 2012
Another excellent story based on British attempts to bring their administration to darkest Africa. Always with tongue in cheek, Edgar Wallace nevertheless provides insights into the period of history at the same time. Wonderful characters, enthralling stories, never a dull moment.
August 15, 2014
Another Sanders!
Another Sanders!
These stories are as good as any of the Sanders of the River stories. They are entertaining tales and I wish that there more of them.
Another Sanders!
These stories are as good as any of the Sanders of the River stories. They are entertaining tales and I wish that there more of them.
May 5, 2017
Manchmal ganz witzige und originelle, insgesamt aber doch eher repetive und ermüdende Kurzgeschichten aus den dem kolonialen Afrika Kosmos von Edgar Wallace.
October 10, 2020
Features the "Bones" and Hamilton that turn up in "Bones in London".
September 14, 2010
A Sanders of the river book.
With the arrival of "Bones" in the previous book the series has taken on a much more comic aspect. The arrival of "Bones" has also sidelined Mr. Commissioner Sanders to more of a supporting role. Like all the previous books this is a collection of short stories set in Africa.
With the arrival of "Bones" in the previous book the series has taken on a much more comic aspect. The arrival of "Bones" has also sidelined Mr. Commissioner Sanders to more of a supporting role. Like all the previous books this is a collection of short stories set in Africa.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews