Sanders of the River

Commissioner Sanders is called upon by the British Government 'to keep a watchful eye upon some quarter of a million cannibal folk, who ten years before had regarded white men as we regard the unicorn. ' Written when world powers were vying for colonial honour, Sanders of the River encapsulates the beliefs and assumptions that motivated such quests. There is religious-palava, raiding-palava, and all the while, Bosambo, magnificent chief of the Ochori watches on.

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.

Thrilling adventures of colonial Africa from the creator of King Kong In the jungles of West Africa, Commissioner Sanders is the highest representative of the British crown. The health and safety of a quarter-million natives-who speak countless languages and worship untold gods-are his responsibility. Whether disciplining a boy king, expelling troublesome missionaries, or fighting to contain outbreaks of sleeping sickness and beri-beri, Sanders and his lieutenants must be quick, decisive, and fair. The fate of the empire-not to mention their lives-depends on it.   These rollicking escapades, based on Edgar Wallace's travels in Africa, offer an entertaining glimpse into a world-and a mindset-long lost but endlessly intriguing.   This ebook features a new introduction by Otto Penzler and has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

1945. Edgar Wallace established his reputation as a writer of detective thrillers, a genre in which he wrote more than 170 books, with the publication of The Four Just Men. In Sanders of the River, Wallace relates the trials and adventures of Mr. Commissioner Sanders in a remote district of West Africa. Grim humor, pathos and tragedy are so skillfully blended and the incidents so vividly depicted, that it is hard to believe they are fictitious. Sanders is a remarkable personality. Keeping a watchful eye on a quarter of a million cannibal folk, his methods of administration are peculiarly his own-and peculiarly successful.

Mr. Commissioner Sanders had graduated to West Central Africa by such easy stages that he did not realise when his acquaintance with the back lands began. Long before he was called upon by the British Government to keep a watchful eye upon some quarter of a million cannibal folk, who ten years before had regarded white men as we regard the unicorn; he had met the Basuto, the Zulu, the Fingo, the Pondo, Matabele, Mashona, Barotse, Hottentot, and Bechuana. Then curiosity and interest took him westward and northward, and he met the Angola folk, then northward to the Congo, westward to the Masai, and finally, by way of the Pigmy people, he came to his own land. Now, there is a subtle difference between all these races, a difference that only such men as Sanders know. It is not necessarily a variety of colour, though some are brown and some yellow, and some-a very few-jet black. The difference is in character. By Sanders' code you trusted all natives up to the same point, as you trust children, with a few notable exceptions. The Zulu were men, the Basuto were men, yet childlike in their grave faith. The black men who wore the fez were subtle, but trustworthy; but the browny men of the Gold Coast, who talked English, wore European clothing, and called one another "Mr.," were Sanders' pet abomination.

British Commissioner Sanders rules the West African territories in the manner of a strict father, watching over his subjects with a combination of force and indulgence. When Sanders takes a period of leave, his kingdom falls into disarray, until order is restored with the help of the loyal chief Bosambo.

As a symbol of the British crown, Commissioner Sanders governs the affairs of Colonial Nigeria, and becomes the target of both internal and external threats. Sanders of the River is one of Edgar Wallace's earliest successes focusing on the colonial experience and West African life. District Commissioner Sanders struggles to maintain peace and prosperity within Colonial Nigeria. As a British ruler, he must manage the crown's expectations as well as the interests of the Nigerian people. Sanders attempt at fair and just authority is often challenged by skeptic natives and outside forces. At his most vulnerable, he faces a political upheaval that may push the colony to the brink of war. Sanders of the River illustrates the tumultuous relationship between the British Empire and its African colonies. While some locals are intrigued by Commissioner Sanders, others are weary of his true intentions. He represents Western ideals which have historically sewn discord within the tribal communities. Influenced by Wallace's own travels, Sanders of the River explores imperialism from both a foreign and domestic perspective. This popular tale spawned multiple sequels including The People of the River (1911) and The River of Stars (1913). The initial story was also adapted for film in 1935 and went on to become a critical and commercial success. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sanders of the River is both modern and readable.

The second installment in the enthralling exploits of Commissioner Sanders, Great Britain's man in colonial Africa Commissioner Sanders should have known better than to go on vacation. He is just a few days from his offices in British West Africa when he receives word from his second in command that trouble, always at a simmer in this jungle outpost, is about to come to a boil. He rushes home, arriving just in time for a meeting of the chiefs of his territory, who have been misled by an ambitious agitator named Bosambo into thinking that Sanders is dead. Sanders's return staves off rebellion, but Bosambo's power grab is not over yet. To keep the province from erupting into all-out tribal warfare, Sanders must outsmart the most brilliant chieftain in Africa.   In these rip-roaring adventures, the heroic commissioner contends with malaria, ju-ju, and the whims of government officials safely ensconced in their London offices. The People of the River is both a good-natured thrill ride and a fascinating historical document.   This ebook features a new introduction by Otto Penzler and has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

The second book in the 'Sanders of the River' series, 'The People of the River' gives us a little more insight into the working of the eponymous Commissioner's mind. Wonderfully witty, decidedly facetious, and always irreverent, this is a collection of encounters between Commissioner Sanders and the Nigerian natives under colonial rule. In addition to the vignettes Wallace paints, this serves as a fascinating record of the cultural clash experienced by both the invaders and the oppressed. A superb read for Wallace fans and those with an interest in history, where the lines between fact and fiction are brilliantly blurred.

The book is a collection of short stories in the "Sanders of the River" series about individuals and their interactions with Commissioner Sanders, the British authority figure.

Commissioner Sanders is back again! However, this adventure sees him set against the backdrop of London rather than Africa. When a bunch of small-time crooks decide to try and steal a diamond mine, Sanders must decide whether he's up to the job, or whether to hand it over to someone more qualified. Full of twists and turns, 'The River of Stars' sees our hero at his most vulnerable and introduces a bevy of fascinating characters. A film adaptation of 'The River of Stars' was made in 1921. This is a superb read for fans of the ´Sanders of the River´ series.

Another exciting title in the Sanders of the River adventure series, featuring Commissioner Sanders. Bosambo is a crook, and a conman. But he is a clever one. He frequently outwits Sanders and his crew. At the same time, he is fiercely loyal to Sanders and often comes to his rescue.

Set in Nigeria, at the time of the British Empire, 'Bones' introduces us to the hapless hero of the piece. The beloved Commissioner Sanders has struck up an uneasy truce with Bosambo, the chief of the Ossori people. While Lieutenant Hamilton steps into Sanders' shoes, the chief decides the time is ripe for some double-dealing. Enter Francis Augustus Tibbetts, a well-meaning, but calamity-prone lieutenant. While he´s always trying to help, everything seems to go wrong for him. Unfortunately for Hamilton, 'Bones' Tibbetts is on hand – which isn't always a good thing. A light-hearted look at life in an Edwardian outpost, 'Bones' set the template for films, such as 'Three Kings,' starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

In the midst of an epidemic, Commissioner Sanders hears of a local woman with a remarkable gift that could transcend the limits of modern medicine. He, along with his trusted advisors, examine a series of miraculous cases tied to this extraordinary figure. In The Keepers of the King's Peace, Sanders embraces the unknown encountering new and surprising obstacles. Within the Belgian Congo, stories of a woman healer called M'lama are spreading among the native people. Soon, military men begin to question their validity and M'lama's powerful influence. Commissioner Sanders seeks to uncover the truth about her rumored ability to cure the sick and even raise the dead. It's a curious expedition that blurs the line between the physical and supernatural realm. With The Keepers of the King's Peace, Edgar Wallace highlights a cultural clash between Africans and Europeans during the colonial period. Sanders and his crew must step outside their comfort zones to fully explore native customs and spiritual practices. This illuminating story was originally published in The Windsor Magazine in 1917 as an entry in the Sanders of the River series. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Keepers of the King's Peace is both modern and readable.

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.

An epidemic has hit West Africa, but Commissioner Sanders hears stories of a woman, M'lama, who can reportedly heal the sick and even raise the dead. As he investigates the claims, he uncovers something that muddies the waters between scientific fact and the supernatural. On the face of it, 'The Keepers of the King's Peace' is a rip-roaring adventure story. However, with some incisive acid, Wallace throws the spotlight on the cultural clash between the invading Europeans and native Africans, during the height of the British Empire. A superb introduction to the works of one of the 20th century's most imitated writers, 'The Keepers of the King's Peace' will delight those interested in British colonial history.

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.

He was Commissioner Sanders - the man who controlled a continent of untamed jungle.

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.

The new managing director of Schemes Ltd. has an elegant London office and a theatrically dressed assistant. However Bones, as he is better known, is bored. Luckily, there is a slump in the shipping market and it is not long before Joe and Fred Pole pay Bones a visit. They are totally unprepared for Bones' unnerving style of doing business, unprepared for his unique style of innocent and endearing mischief.

From the coast of West Africa to the streets of Europe, the peculiar Augustus "Bones" Tibbetts is unknowingly pulled into various financial plots and schemes. As part of Edgar Wallace's Sanders of the River collection, Bones in London follows the endearing military man as he haplessly juggles business and politics. Augustus Tibbetts, also known as Bones, has left the coast of Africa for the bustling streets of England. As the new managing director of Schemes Ltd., he suddenly finds himself at the center of multiple mishaps. Along with his trusted assistant Miss Winfield, the duo encounters questionable characters and unexpected ploys. Despite the circumstance, Bones stays true to his nature and finds a way to come out on top. Wallace uses the affable protagonist to highlight corrupt business practices within London. It is an issue that affects both upper and lower-class citizens making it relatable to a broader audience. With Bones' unique perspective and eccentric voice, he balances the dark tone with genuine humor and heart. Bones in London is one of many entries in the author's vast catalog, which includes Bones (1915), Lieutenant Bones (1918), and Bones of the River (1923). Each book is a serialized version of short stories originally published in The Weekly Tale-Teller, The Windsor Magazine, and The 20-Story Magazine. For more than a century, these classic titles have delivered mystery and intrigue for readers of all ages. Wallace's work was integral to the creation of contemporary crime drama. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bones in London is both modern and readable.

The new Managing Director of Schemes Ltd has an elegant London office and a theatrically dressed assistant - however Bones, as he is better known, is bored. Luckily there is a slump in the shipping market and it is not long before Joe and Fred Pole pay Bones a visit. They are totally unprepared for Bones' unnerving style of doing business, unprepared for his unique style of innocent and endearing mischief.

The ninth instalment in the 'Sanders of the River' series, ´Sandi the King-Maker´ provides a fitting end for our eponymous hero. When a missionary and his daughter go missing in Africa, Commissioner Sanders is sent there to find out what happened. However, what he uncovers will challenge even his pragmatic and idealistic approach. Set in the days of British Colonialism, 'Sandi the King-Maker' offers a fascinating look at life under the British Empire while packing in plenty of adventure. ´Sandi the King-Maker´ is the ideal read for Wallace fans and those with an interest in colonial history.

Employing his unique style of innocent and endearing humour, Bones has written to the newspapers The Surrey Star and The Middlesex Plain Dealer inviting the Foreign Secretary to pay a visit to the African territories which they administer. It is against the regulations and his boss Hamilton is furious. While world powers vie for colonial honours, Sanders and his assistants attempt to administer an uneasy peace in a climate of ju-ju and witch doctors, and all the while Bosambo, chief of the Ochori, watches closely.

Twelve short stories centered around British officials in colonial Africa, part of the series by the early twentieth-century writer famous for King Kong.   Readers of Edgar Wallace's Sanders of the River series will enjoy these sharp-witted adventure stories featuring Captain Hamilton and the inexperienced Lt. Augustus "Bones" Tibbetts. These sensational tales, more than a century old, reflect some of the attitudes of the time, but also provide a fascinating window into the culture and mindset of the historical British empire and life in Africa under foreign rule-which was directly observed by the author as both a soldier and a war correspondent during the Second Boer War, who also reported on atrocities in the Belgian Congo.