
In the cramped, lamp‑lit rooms of a modest Whitechapel surgery, a dedicated doctor and his eager apprentice tend to the desperate and the destitute, their lives intertwined with the gritty pulse of East‑London. When a frantic letter arrives for the young Richard Maitland, its dire news about his family’s ruin shatters the routine of bandages and bitter ale, thrusting him into a sudden, unsettling urgency.
Compelled to leave the soot‑stained streets behind, Dick embarks on a journey that will carry him far beyond the familiar fog of the city to the uncharted wilds of Africa. Along the way he must confront unfamiliar cultures, perilous terrains, and the lingering mystery hinted at in his mother’s desperate plea, all while relying on the steadfast guidance of his mentor and the unlikely allies he meets. The adventure promises both external danger and an inner quest for courage and purpose.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (480K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2007-04-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1851–1922
Best known for fast-moving sea adventures, this prolific Victorian storyteller filled his novels with shipwrecks, daring rescues, and far-flung voyages. He wrote under a pen name, drawing on his own experience as a civil engineer to give his tales an extra sense of practicality and detail.
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