Diamond Dyke

A most authentic-seeming book about the difficulties a pair of young Britons faced when they went to South Africa, and set up an ostrich farm in the dry and largely empty veldt. They had a married couple of the locals to help them, and of these the man wasn't much use. They also had a most sagacious dog, who figures largely in the story. One of the enemies they had to face was lions. One day they found they needed more stores, so young Dyke, barely sixteen years of age, has to go on a six or seven day journey to the farm of the nearest honest storekeeper, a fat old German, seventy years of age. On the way back there is a serious delay due to a flash flood which took several days to clear. But when they get back they find that the older brother is seriously ill of an African fever. The local people had been sure he would die, and were preparing to move in and take what stock there was. But young Dyke nurses his brother back to health. A little later the old German turns up at the farm, and makes a discovery which would change the fortunes of the brothers for ever. A very gripping story in the best Fenn style, very hard to put down. According to Wikipedia: "George Manville Fenn (January 3, 1831, Pimlico - August 26, 1909, Isleworth) was a British writer. He worked as a teacher in Lincolnshire, until he became printer, editor and publisher of various magazines. He had eight children with his wife Susanna Leake, whom he had married in 1855. Most of his work consists of adventure stories for young readers, featuring Explorers, Smugglers, young Adventurers and Seamen. His adult novels offer critical social commentary on Victorian England, especially reconsidering economic questions."

Dettagli