The first book in the ́Sanders of the River ́ series and set in the Edwardian era, ‘Sanders of the River’ focuses on the eponymous Governor of Nigeria.
Commissioner Sanders struggles to balance the requests of The Crown against the needs of the natives.
As he strives to juggle the demands from both parties, Sanders finds himself facing political turmoil that might push his colony to the brink of war.
As a story, the reader is introduced to the struggles faced by an invading force. As a historical piece of fiction, this is an important document of the impact British colonialism had on West Africa.
An excellent introduction to one of the most opinionated minds of the 20th Century.
‘Sanders of the River’ is ideal for those interested in literature with a British Colonial setting. 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’.