
A late‑Victorian family in London faces a sudden health crisis when their son Frank is prescribed a change of climate. Their mother, ever practical, writes to her children about the plan to journey to South Africa—a land described by a fashionable visitor as a paradise of gold, diamonds and endless sunshine. The prospect of warm weather and exotic scenery turns a medical recommendation into an eager family expedition.
The night before departure erupts into comic chaos when Louise discovers she has left her locked diary on the dressing‑table, prompting a frantic hansom‑cab chase through foggy streets. With a flurry of lamplight, hurried servants, and a daring driver, the family barely makes it to the dock in time to board the mail steamer Trojan. As the ship pulls away, the siblings stare at the rolling waves, unsure whether they will find health, adventure, or both in the distant Zulu lands.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (229K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2011-08-29
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Travel, performance, and adventure shape the work of this little-known American writer, who turned years in South Africa into vivid books. Her writing blends firsthand observation with the dramatic flair of someone who had also performed on European stages.
View all books