Prester John
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
This, the only critical edition of John Buchan's Prester John (1910), was Buchan's sixth novel and the first to reach a wide readership across the world, establishing him as the writer of fast-paced adventures for which he is famous. It is a tale of nineteen year old David Crawfurd, who travels from Scotland to South Africa to work as a storekeeper. When Crawfurd encounters John Laputa, a celebrated Zulu minister who has taken the title of the mythical priest-king Prester John, he finds himself at the heart of a massive uprising of the people, holding the key to its secret.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:019282936X
ISBN13:9780192829368
Release Date:August 1994
Publisher:Oxford University Press, USA
Length:256 Pages
Weight:0.36 lbs.
Dimensions:0.5" x 4.6" x 7.3"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
Adventure on a Large Canvas: South Africa
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
This novel, set more than a century ago in backwater South Africa, is the great grandfather of today's thrillers. Buchan, who perfected the form in "The 39 Steps" some years later, gives his young hero plenty to do in sussing out and confronting a massive uprising by tribesmen who wish to slaughter all the white settlers for a hundred miles around. The writing is smooth and the situations are generally believable, though modern readers will have to forgive Buchan for some racist sentiments completely common at the time. Both black and white characters are compellingly and sympathetically drawn, though, so there's no reason to apologize for the book. Read it and be taken back to another time and another place, and imagine how Hollywood would produce this today-- it feels totally contemporary in terms of its "Indiana Jones" adventure plot. Enjoy! (Note: This book is available in its entirety online.)
A good old fashioned adventure story
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
This is a good old fashioned adventure story-- right along with lines of "King Soloman's Mines", "Allen Quartermain", "Beau Gests", "The Sea-Hawks","She", "Scaramouche","The Scarlet Pimpernel", etc. "Prester John" is based on a character/myth of the same name. Thoughout the Middle Ages it was rumored that a priest named "Prester (Father) John" had traveled to Africa to convert the natives. But instead emassed a huge fortune and made himself king of this mysterous part of Africa. So as you can expect this story is full of lost civilizations, hidden treasures, deepest-darkest Africa, great friendship and ruthless betrayal, explorers of spooky places, tigers and lions, witch doctors, and just plan good old fashioned late-victoria adventures. And despite it being written 100 or so years ago, it is still very,very readable. So if you just want 100% escapism, or to introduce a child to the joys (and excitement) of reading, you can't go wrong with this story...esp. at this price!
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
