If you can imagine Rowan Atkinson’s ‘Mr Bean’ as a lieutenant serving in Africa during the days of the British Empire, then you’ve got a good idea of ‘Lieutenant Bones.’
When Commissioner Sanders goes on leave, the African territories are left under the watchful eye of Lieutenant ‘Bones’ Hamilton.
However, it soon becomes painfully obvious that our hapless hero is definitely not up to the job – particularly when trying to negotiate peace talks with a local chief.
A light-hearted look at a soldier completely out of his depth, ‘Lieutenant Bones’ is the ideal read for those interested in humourous adventure stories. Prior to the success of ́King Kong ́, which he co-created, Edgar Wallace published a selection of tales about Commissioner Sanders and his adventures in Africa under British rule. Born in London, Edgar Wallace (1875 – 1932) was an English writer so prolific that his publisher claimed that he was responsible for a quarter of all books sold in England. Leaving school at the age of 12, Wallace made his first steps into the literary world by selling newspapers on the corner of Fleet Street. He worked as a war correspondent after joining the army at age 21, which honed his writing abilities. This led to the creation of his first book ‘The Four Just Men.’ Wallace is best remembered as the co-creator of ‘King Kong,’ which has been adapted for film 12 times (most notably directed by ‘Lord of the Rings’ director, Peter Jackson, and starring Jack Black and Naomi Watts). However, he leaves behind an extensive body of work, including stories such as ‘The Crimson Circle’ and ‘The Flying Squad’.