Prester John

In 1910 it was I guess a common fact that De Beers was a controlling force in the diamond market and that they’re only valuable because people control the supply? I feel like this still was like, something people were just figuring out in 2000. Maybe the marketing of diamonds really just outcompeted this fact.

Noted on May 27, 2025

I’m really enjoying it so far! Unlike H Rider Haggard stories of adventure in Africa, it’s not a bold man in quest of adventure. Instead we have a young man, in experienced if capable, fretting while some undisclosed trouble brews around him. He’s posted up running a general store in the African bush, hearing rumors of an uprising against the colonizers. Buchan does a good job here of the growing dread, knowing something bad is coming, but being unclear on what it is, or what you could do to prevent it. By page 61 this could be an A24 horror movie.

Noted on May 20, 2025

Despite my long ‘I’ll read anything about or mentioning Prester John’ kick, I never picked this up. And that’s because I wanted to read real facts or history about Prester John, and this is a pulpy adventure novel that takes the African branch of the prester John story, and uses it in name only. Or at least that’s what I’d always heard. But after enjoying The 39 Steps, decided to pick this up. It does what it says on the tin, and definitely has enough 1910 'African adventure' racism to feel very uncomfortable.

Noted on May 20, 2025