Shipwrecked children. A warrior king. A rising power that would reshape a nation. The year is 1815. With Europe reeling from Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, Royal Navy Commander Stephen Cowen resigns his commission, bound for a new life in India with his family. But fate has other plans in store. When a violent storm strikes off the coast of East Africa, Cowen's three children - Nathaniel, Andrew, and Beatrice - are swept overboard in a longboat and cast ashore in an uncharted world. Lost and presumed dead, they are discovered by a local tribe and brought before the newly appointed Chief of the Zulus - the formidable Shaka - to decide their fate. Fascinated by these young strangers, Shaka spares their lives. Amid tribal warfare and political unrest, the Cowen siblings are drawn into Shaka's inner circle, forced to confront the brutal realities of their new world while holding onto the hope of being reunited with their parents. Several years later, when their godfather, Lieutenant Francis Farewell RNR, ventures into the African interior in search of a rumoured warrior king, he unexpectedly stumbles upon a prize of infinitesimal value. Spanning continents and cultures, The Napoleon of Africa by Phil Smart is a gripping historical adventure story of survival, identity and destiny: entwining the lives of the Cowen family with one of Africa's most legendary leaders.
Autorentext
The Napoleon of Africa is my first novel, written first and foremost for my children and family. It embraces some of the whimseys and experiences of my life and has been a joy to write.
I have lived a full and rich life in my humble 70 years and have always been asked "when are you going to write a book?". I have a deep passion for reading and storytelling and so have always felt that I had a story in my heart that I would love to share with the world.
As I am now semi-retired, I have finally found the time to write something that I would love to read, both for myself and to my family, if I were to ever see such a book on a store-shelf.
I hope you enjoy the journey.