Publisher's Synopsis
A Victorian romp that begins in one of the stately homes of England and then leads us into deepest darkest Africa. From the pen of Don Bull. Downton Abbey meets Tarzan of the Jungle in a struggle that has no rules except to survive. Ranged against you in this task is a never-ending queue comprising of inhospitable locals, dangerous animals and waterfalls, even the flies can kill you. But what's a little unpleasantness as we attempt to keep our upper lips stiff for Queen and country. It's 1871 and George Pilkington is first footman at Swansgrove Manor. Earl Beaushanks is the head of the house and he and his family are looked after there by a small army of servants. George has risen to his prized rank of first footman after many years of service and harbours ambitions to go even further. George is a valued member of what is, a close-knit staff and he's immensely proud of his position. He's secretly in love with the daughter of the house, the unattainable if spoilt Lady Charlotte. George is also infatuated with the cook, Mrs Fournier who is an attractive French woman some years his senior but another impossible dream to a lowly footman. Then there is Daisy Meadows, a maid at the house and one that everyone has always assumed that George will marry one day. These women occupy George's thoughts for most of his waking hours when he isn't working. George has made a comfortable niche for himself as first footman and his great hope in life is to one day become butler. He has enjoyed a secure and harmonious existence through his hard work and diligence. His hard earned status and respect come crashing down when through no fault of his own George is thrown into one dangerous and unexpected situation after another. George has never previously ventured further than nearby Shrewsbury, a situation he was more than happy to continue. Suddenly he finds himself thousands of miles from home in a country he had no desire to visit, he's seeing sights that he'd never dreamt of seeing and even worse he ends up crossing swords with the sort of people he would have suffered nightmares about meeting. Will George ever see England's green and pleasant land again?