The Alpha Raid (U)

by Alan Scholefield

'Alan Scholefield has a fine, flamboyant descriptive power...a savage gusto similar to Wilbur Smith.' - RAND DAILY MAIL. Across Lake Tanganyika prowls the huge paddle-steamer AFRIKA, protecting Von Lettow's guerillas and pinning allied troops down on the Congo side. Commanded by an officer three parts crazy, a small British naval unit works its way up from Cape Town to Lake Tanganyika. Travelling by railtrack and bullock-wagon, along rivers and mountain tracks, they haul two fast gun launches to the lake shore. Their mission is to strike down the AFRIKA with the speed and the venom of an African mamba...

400 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 1994

About the author

Alan Scholefield was born in 1931 in Cape Town, South Africa. After leaving university he became a journalist and travelled widely in southern and central Africa, Europe, and America. He now lives in Hampshire with his wife and has three daughters. Most famous for his Macrae and Silver series, Scholefield has also written other novels, including Venom, which was made into a film in 1981.

Reviews

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable

A very interesting portrayal of a World war 1 action, showing the emotion and thus somewhat prevented nature of various personalities and military discipline.

[Graeme Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rubbish! AS is not Wilbur Smith . Don't even try.

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another piece of historical fiction that reads like a rip-roaring adventure story by Scholefield. He has the ability to bring incidents of history to vivid life with characters to whom the reader can relate. His settings are based on research and are realistic. A great read.