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In the first place, there was the old standing trouble about the Shuwa Patrol; in the second, the truculent Chiboks were waxing insolent again, and their young men were regarding not the words of their elders concerning Sir Garnet Wolseley, and what happened, long, long ago, after the battle of Chibok Hill. Thirdly, the price of grain had risen to six shillings a saa, and famine threatened; fourthly, the Shehu and Shuwa sheiks were quarrelling again; and, fifthly, there was a very bad smal...

"Snake and Sword" is a novel written by Percival Christopher Wren, a British author best known for his novel "Beau Geste." However, "Snake and Sword" is not as widely recognized or acclaimed as some of his other works.The storyline likely involves elements of Roman history, warfare, and possibly political intrigue. Given Wren's penchant for adventurous tales set in exotic or historical locales, "Snake and Sword" might incorporate themes of bravery, honor, and the clash of cultures or civil...

Adventure and Exploration: The protagonist, often a bold and resourceful adventurer typical of Wren's characters, navigates through the challenging terrain and encounters various obstacles and dangers.Romance: As implied by the title, romance plays a significant role in the story. The protagonist may find love amidst the adventure, possibly with a local African woman or someone else they meet along the journey.Cultural Exploration: Wren's novels typically delve into the cultural aspects of...

In "The Wages of Virtue," Wren likely explores themes of honor, morality, and the complexities of human relationships. The novel may center around characters facing moral dilemmas and the consequences of their choices. Wren's writing typically includes vivid descriptions, dynamic characters, and adventurous plots that captivate readers.Overall, "The Wages of Virtue" by Percival Christopher Wren is a classic example of early 20th-century adventure fiction, offering readers a thrilling narra...

The narrative likely weaves together the stories of individuals from diverse backgrounds and walks of life who cross paths under unusual circumstances. It may explore themes of fate, chance encounters, human connections, and the impact of these chance meetings on the characters' lives.Wren's writing style often featured adventurous and dramatic plots, and "Driftwood Spars" might reflect his knack for storytelling, emphasizing the complexities of human relationships and the unpredictability...

A few weeks after applying at the proper military headquarters, I received orders to appear before the Conseil de Revision with my papers, at the Town Hall of my native district; and, with a hundred or so other young men of every social class and kind, was duly examined, physically and mentally. Soon after this, I received a notice directing me to present myself at the cavalry barracks, to be examined in equitation. If I failed in the test, I could not enter a cavalry regiment as a one-yea...

My brother caught the priest and Dolores.... In the priest's own church.... My brother married them before the altar ... and their married life was brief!... But of course, God knew he was mad.... As he left that desecrated church, he cried, 'Never will I enter the House of God, again!...' And that very night the big earthquake came and shattered our village with a dozen others. As we dashed through the door--the old mother in my brother's arms, my crippled sister on my back--the roof cave...

Captain Strong, although a soldier, the conditions of whose life were almost those of perpetual Active Service, was a student--and particularly a student of human nature. Throughout a life of great activity he found, and made, much opportunity for sitting in the stalls of the Theatre of Life and enjoying the Human Comedy. This East African shooting-trip with Lord Huntingten, Sir Montague, and Lady Merline, was affording him great entertainment, inasmuch as Huntingten had fallen in love wit...

One oppressive June evening, Lenore de Warrenne returned from church (where she had, as usual, prayed fervently that her soon-expected first-born might be a daughter), and entered her dressing-room. Here her Ayah divested her of hat, dress, and boots, and helped her into the more easeful tea-gown and satin slippers. "Bootlair wanting ishweets for dinner-table from go-down, please, Mem-Sahib," observed Ayah, the change of garb accomplished.
 "The butler wants sweets, does he? Give me my key...

There never lived a more honourable, upright, scrupulous gentleman than Major Hugh Walsingham Greene, and there seldom lived a duller, narrower, more pompous or more irascible one. Nor, when the Great War broke out, and gave him something fresh to do and to think about, were there many sadder and unhappier men. His had been a luckless and unfortunate life, what with his two wives and his one son; his excellent intentions and deplorable achievements; his kindly heart and harsh exterior; his...

In "Beau Ideal," Percival Christopher Wren crafts a captivating narrative that intertwines themes of honor, camaraderie, and the complexities of soldiering amid the backdrop of colonial exploits. The novel, originally published in 1925, features a rich and immersive literary style characterized by vivid descriptions and dynamic dialogue, which serve to evoke the visceral realities of military life. Set against exotic landscapes and heroic ideals, Wren's work reflects the zeitgeist of the e...