The Gorilla Hunters - Ballantyne, R. M.

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Résumé :
R. M. Ballantyne, a Scottish author, wrote the boys' adventure book ''The Gorilla Hunters'' in 1861. Ralph, Peterkin, and Jack, the three lads from his wildly popular 1858 novel The Coral Island, are the main characters of this sequel, which is set in darkest Africa. The themes in the novel echo those of The Coral Island, where the lads attest to the benefits of missionary activity among the locals. A major theme of the book is the hunt for gorillas, an animal that was unknown to Westerners until recently but has since become crucial in discussions about evolution and the interactions between white Westerners and Africans. A slave trader is the focus of the second part of the book's plot, and the three hunters and their guide spend weeks pursuing him to stop him and his crew from occupying and enslaving Mbango's people. They are too late; Makarooroo's fiance is one of those who have been taken. The three plan the fortifications and successfully repel the trader when he attacks Jambai's settlement. The hunters rest for a few weeks in the village of a different tribe, which is governed by a Jambai family member.

Biographie:
R. M. Ballantyne was a Scottish writer of young adult literature who produced more than a hundred books between 24 April 1825 and 8 February 1894. He was also a skilled artist; some of his watercolors were on display at the Royal Scottish Academy. The ninth of ten children and youngest son of Alexander Thomson Ballantyne (1776-1847) and his wife Anne, Ballantyne was born in Edinburgh on April 24, 1825. (1786-1855). Robert's uncle James Ballantyne (1772-1833) was Sir Walter Scott's printer, and Alexander worked as a newspaper editor and printer in the family business Ballantyne & Co based at Paul's Works on the Canongate. The family is documented to have resided at 20 Fettes Row in Edinburgh's northern New Town in 1832-1833. The Ballantyne printing company collapsed the next year with debts of ?130,000 as a result of a UK-wide banking crisis, which caused a decrease in the family's finances. Ballantyne moved to Canada at the age of 16 and worked for the Hudson's Bay Company for five years. He traveled by canoe and sleigh to the regions that are now the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec to trade with the local First Nations and Native Americans for furs; these experiences served as the inspiration for his book The Young Fur Traders.

Sommaire:
R. M. Ballantyne (1825-1894) was a Scottish author known for his adventure novels, particularly for young readers. Ballantyne's literary career took off with his first major work, Coral Island (1858), which became a classic of children's literature, telling the story of shipwrecked boys on a deserted island. His writing often featured themes of adventure, survival, and moral lessons, appealing to the Victorian fascination with exploration and the natural world. Throughout his career, he published over 100 books, including titles like The Gorilla Hunters. Ballantyne's works, including Up in the Clouds, often featured themes of adventure, survival, and moral lessons, reflecting the Victorian era's fascination with exploration. His ability to transport readers into fantastical worlds remains influential today. Ballantyne's stories not only entertained but also instilled values of courage, friendship, and resilience in young readers. His vivid depictions of adventure continue to inspire generations, ensuring his place in the canon of children's literature....