Name: The African Queen
ISBN: 9780394601021

C. S. Forester

During World War II, a proper English missionary and a garrulous Cockney boatman, sole survivors of a German raid, decide to strike a blow for England

The African Queen

Colleen

First of all, I had no idea this was a book until recently let alone that it was written by an author I like. I'm not sure how I missed it all these years.

This book should be read with a grain of salt keeping in mind the time when it was written (1930's) and when it was set (1914). Women certainly were not expected to achieve much back then beyond raising a family and running a household. Rose grew up with a conservative, religous household eventually going with her brother the missionary to Central Africa. She plods along dutifully until tragedy strikes. Then without hesitation, Rose strikes out not only to survive but to help her country. Her character is offset by the tenacious but gentle Allnut. Together they set off on a grand adventure with some surprises along the way. 

P.S. I forgot to add that there were some great vocabulary words in this! Like uxorious, bifurcated, and loquacity. They just don't make them like they used to!

The African Queen

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