 | The wilderness and the war path |  |
VIII.
THE FRENCH IN ALGIERS.
I. The Soldiers of the Foreign Legion. II. The Prisoners of Abd-el-Kader.
Translated from the German and French by Lady Duff Gordon. Price
37½ cents.
“There is something refreshing in reading of the men of instinct, such
as the Bedouins.”
—New York Tribune.
“This work is in two parts—the first by a Lieutenant in the Oldenberg
service—the second by a Lieutenant in the French navy; but both parts are
of a most interesting character; and are worthy of the place which they hold
in the `Library of Choice Reading.' The work is written in an unpretending
style, and contains a great deal of curious and instructive matter,
which to us at least is entirely new.”
—American Citizen.
“The main interest of his story centres upon Abd-el-Kader; and it is
curious to see how little this Frenchman's portrait from life of the famous
Emir corresponds with the representations of him given by the European
journals. According to the latter Abd-el-Kader is a formidable chieftain,
marshalling under his banner numerous and warlike tribes, fired with the
most determined spirit of fanaticism, setting at defiance the military power
of France, and meditating even the expulsion of the Moorish Emperor from
his throne. Monsieur France, on the contrary, brings him before us a mere
free-booting chief of a few hundreds, rich in a solitary cannon so badly
mounted as to be almost useless, and with great difficulty keeping his vagabonds
together by indiscriminate plunder. The Abd-el-Kader of the newspapers
is quite a romantic hero; but the Abd-el-Kader of this book is a very
different personage.”
—New York Commercial Advertiser.
“A book made up from the actual experience of a soldier and sailor—
presenting a very vivid account of the French dominion in Africa. One half
is the contribution of a Ge man soldier of fortune, who, finding himself out
and Abd-el-Kader in the Foreign Legion. His incidents, jottings down, and
reflections smell of the camp. The anecdotes of the expeditions and skirmishes
throw a new light on our contemporary meagre newspaper bulletins
headed Algeria. We are quietly put in possession of the whole system of
strategy—and may confidently predict something more enduring in the
French struggle with the native tribes than in our own with the Seminoles.
The second portion of the book gives the experience of M. De France, an officer
of the navy, who was one day noosed on the sea-board, and carried to Abdel-Kader.
He gives an interesting account of the great chief and his camp.
Lady Duff Gordon, the accomplished translator and editor of this volume, is,
we understand, the daughter of Sarah Austen, so well known to all English
readers of German Literature.”
—New York Morning News.
“This No. (the 8th) of the `Library of Choice Reading,' is an actual
record of the observations of two highly intelligent young men upon some
very interesting scenes in which they were themselves sharers. The work
contains much valuable information, and is written throughout in a style
that cannot fail to attract and interest all classes of readers.”
—Albany Religious
Spectator.
| The wilderness and the war path | |