| Author | John Buchan |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland, South Africa |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Thriller, Novel |
| Publisher | William Blackwood & Sons |
| Publication date | 1910 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | NA |
Prester John is a 1910 adventure novel by John Buchan. It tells the story of the British character David Crawfurd's adventures in South Africa, where a Zulu uprising is tied with the medieval legend of Prester John. Crawfurd is similar in many ways to Buchan's later character Richard Hannay. Buchan was a strong supporter of the British Empire and the British Commonwealth, and this can be seen in this novel. Though tainted with the common racial stereotypes and caricatures of its day, the book was popular, and exists as an excellent example of the early 20th century adventure novel. It contains the notable line: "Perfect love casteth out fear, the Bible says; but, to speak it reverently, so does perfect hate."[1]
Plot
The setting is contemporary to publication, i.e. the beginning of the 20th century. Crawfurd's father dies, and he goes to work as a shopkeeper in a place called Blaauwildebeestefontein. Then there is a Zulu uprising.
References
- ^ Buchan, John (1910). Prester John. New York: George H. Doran Company, 130.
