Prester John
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The 1910 adventure book Prester John was written by Scottish novelist John Buchan. It narrates the tale of a young Scotsman named David Crawfurd and his exploits in South Africa, where a Zulu insurrection led by the ebullient black pastor John Laputa is connected to the medieval legend of Prester John. The year of publishing (1900) serves as the period for the setting. Laputa, the enemy, is first encountered by Crawfurd while conducting a ceremony on the beach at Kirkcaple, a seaside town. As a result of his interactions with Laputa and a Portuguese guy named Henriques, Crawfurd progressively learns of illicit diamond smuggling as well as a planned uprising of the local natives, including the Zulu and Swazi people, under the leadership of Laputa. Crawfurd is taken prisoner, but after relaying information to Captain Arcoll, he escapes during an ambush and takes the necklet from Henriques, who is attempting to take it for himself. While everything is going on, Crawfurd goes back to the cave and discovers the cunning Henriques dead outside, strangled by Laputa.
John Buchan
Author of the iconic novel The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan filled many roles including barrister, colonial administrator, publisher, Director of Intelligence, and Member of Parliament. The Thirty-Nine Steps, first in the Richard Hannay series, is widely regarded as the starting point for espionage fiction and was written to pass time while Buchan recovered from an illness. During the outbreak of the First World War, Buchan wrote propaganda for the British war effort, combining his skills as author and politician. In 1935 Buchan was appointed the 15th Governor General of Canada and established the Governor General’s Literacy Award. Buchan was enthusiastic about literacy and the evolution of Canadian culture. He died in 1940 and received a state funeral in Canada before his ashes were returned to the United Kingdom.
More by John Buchan
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