IN DESERT AND WILDERNESS….. is a wonderfully written book about two children and their adventures in Africa. It is a tale of heroism with a romantic view of life. A good, clean, easy read for all ages. So, maybe it is an "Out of Africa" for young teenagers or older children, but above all, it is just plain good literature. 375 Pages in print!
• This volume includes a “Detailed Biography” of our author, Henryk Sienkiewicz.
Although written around a hundred years ago, this book covers "current" issues such as radical Islam, terrorist kidnappings, war in the Middle East, and genocide in Sudan.
In addition, it has a strong moral foundation. Stas, its hero, faces a number of gripping moral and ethical dilemmas certain to provoke some good discussions on topics ranging from racism and slavery to self-defense to honesty and loyalty to one's friends. Sienkiewicz does an excellent job of showing the moral, ethical, and practical consequences of the decisions made by the characters without being preachy.
Be warned, however, this book is not politically correct. It depicts radical Islam, native African cultures, and European colonialism as seen from the viewpoint of European colonial children. Yes, some Muslims may be offended by the portrayal of radical Islam. But Sienkiewicz refuses to demonize anyone, showing the humanity and goodness present even in the children's kidnappers.
And regarding racism, Sienkiewicz does not shirk from putting some racist opinions in the mouths of some of the non-black characters. Rather, through the honorable and resourceful actions of Stas' black friend Kali, Sienkiewicz subtly illuminates the folly of their racist stereotyping.
What really makes this book stand head and shoulders above your average classic is not its timeliness nor its moral foundation. Nor is it the compelling, three-dimensional characters. It's not even the beautiful descriptions of the African countryside, which make it obvious the author has seen that of which he writes. No, what makes this book is how much fun it is to read.
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