I enjoy historical fiction. You get the benefit of actually learning something coupled with the readability of a novel. Just finished Land of the Long Grass by Marina Maxwell. A story about the settlement of the area north of the Zambezi. One of the key characters in the story is a fellow named Harrison Clark. Clark actually became a tribal chief and was known as Changa Changa. Wish there was more written about Clark. Apparently he recorded some memoirs before he died but they were lost. Very enjoyable and interesting book, easy read.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harrison_Clark

Mike, that is quite a story! Will look up the book. Thanks for posting.

So will I

Along the same lines I still recommend Bartle Bull's trilogy "The white rhino hotel,Cafe on the Nile, + The devil's oasis."May need to look on Amazon though as I have heard they are out of print.Great story though.

I second the recommendation on Bartle Bull.
Read the trilogy after learning of Bartle Bull on this forum, all three are great reads. He writes in great vocabulary and holds your interest with history and fiction.

Just finished his Shanghai Station last week. More historical fiction , not Africa but the White Russian army relocation to China.

Love this forum.

Mike:

Are you interested in the Indian Wars of the west? Have you read Terry C. Johnston's books?
I have the full set, but, after 15 or so all basically the same things all the time just different names and locations I got bored and set the rest aside til another time.
Very well researched and written though.

George

George,

Yes, I have read a number of Johnston's books. Anytime someone is writing about a very specific time and place in history I suspect what you are describing is the case . . . probably part a crutch by the writer and part a reflection that the events really did tend to be similar from one incident to the next. I tend to jump back and forth on subjects and that, coupled with my often poor memory, makes it less of an issue for me. I will give Johnston this, he can describe acts of brutality in a narrative way that paints a pretty darn graphic mental picture.

swaincreek,read the sequaele "China Star". Just like James Clavell,when a series ended I felt somewhat cheated because the next novel was not coming BTW,have you "read James Clavell? If not I recommemnd "Tai-Pan" Not the first in the Asian series but the perfect place to start Truly!.