The African Queen

As World War One breaks out, the two lead characters in this book are deep in German Central Africa. The first, the spinster sister of the reverend, who has spent ten years at his side is left alone after her brother passes away. The second is an engineer from a Belgian gold mine two hundred miles further upstream.
Two English people, in the circumstances of the war, they have little other option but to band together to try and find a way out, in the small near derelict launch named The African Queen. Rose and Charlie, an unusual pair soon find their positions in the new relationship, and determine that the only option is to take on the barely navigable Ulanga river to the distant lake, where the German steamer patrols. Their ambitious plan includes improvising torpedos from the mining explosives the launch is loaded with!

So the story unfolds, with the virgin spinster taking control, and the cockney engineer doing as he is told with a ‘yes miss'. Obstacles, rapids and cataracts, mosquitoes and malaria, mechanical breakdowns, gender politics, action and drama. Written in 1935, it is classic action rather than modern action, but a short enough book that you wouldn't notice.

Very entertaining, quick read. 4 stars.