Lieutenant Bones by Edgar Wallace

Name: Lieutenant Bones
Author: Edgar Wallace

The narrative follows Lieutenant Tibbetts, known as Bones, who serves in a remote African territory under Commissioner Sanders. The story begins with a vivid depiction of the lawless village of M'fumbini, where the inhabitants are portrayed as thieves and cannibals. The arrival of Mr. Commissioner Sanders, who attempts to impose order, leads to the execution of the village chief, but the new chief quickly establishes a secret society that continues the village's lawlessness. The plot thickens when a scout named N'kema discovers news of a white man who has created a magical liquid that brings happiness, prompting the villagers to seek it out. N'kema proposes a plan to trade ivory for this "Water of Madness," leading to a secret expedition. Meanwhile, Sanders and his team, including Captain Hamilton and Lieutenant Tibbetts, receive news of the war and the arrival of a naval destroyer, which stirs excitement and speculation about their roles in the conflict. As the story unfolds, Bones becomes embroiled in various misadventures, including a failed attempt to catch a U-boat and a series of humorous encounters with the local tribes. His character is marked by a blend of naivety and unexpected bravery, as he navigates the complexities of colonial life and the challenges posed by the local tribes. The narrative also explores themes of power, superstition, and the clash of cultures, particularly through the interactions between the British officials and the native tribes. The story culminates in a series of confrontations, misunderstandings, and ultimately, a resolution that highlights the absurdities of colonial rule and the resilience of the local people. Throughout the work, Bones's character serves as a comedic lens through which the reader experiences the absurdities of colonial life, while also revealing deeper truths about human nature and the complexities of power dynamics in a colonial context. The story is rich with vivid descriptions, humor, and a critique of imperialism, making it a compelling read that captures the essence of the time and place.

By Edgar Wallace · First published 1935 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction · 14 chapters · 82,529 words

First lines

There was a lawless group of villages set upon a wooded ridge at the confluence of B'suri and the Great River, and these villages were called by the name of the largest, M'fumbini-falapa. It had another name which I will not give, lest this story falls into the hands of innocent people who speak the B'mongo tongue, but it may be translated in a gentlemanly way as "Everlastingly nasty. " It was neither clean within, nor picturesque from without. The huts straggled and strayed without order or symmetry. They were old huts, and patched huts, and many were uglified by the employment of rusty scraps of galvanized iron, for near by, cala-cala long ago, an optimistic British company had erected a store for the collection of palm nuts. The enterprise had failed, and the store had been left derelict, and in time the wild had grown round and over it. And the people of M'fumbini had in their furtive, foraging way taken scraps -- they did nothing systematically or thoroughly -- and had added abomination to abomination until their village was an eyesore and an offence to all beholders.

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Lieutenant Bones is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edgar Wallace, dated 1935 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Edgar Wallace
Date: 1935 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Adventure, Drama
Length: 82,529 words
Structure: 14 chapters, 1,907 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around solving a crime, which is central to the narrative.
Thriller — The story contains suspenseful elements and tension that keep readers engaged.
Crime Fiction — The book deals with criminal activities and the investigation surrounding them.
Adventure — The characters often find themselves in perilous situations that require quick thinking and action.