Zoraida: A Romance (1894) is an adventure novel by Anglo-French writer
William Le Queux. Published at the beginning of Le Queux's career as a
leading author of popular thrillers, Zoraida: A Romance is a story of
adventure, omen, and the dangers of attraction. Using his own research
and experience as a journalist and adventurer, Le Queux crafts an
accessible, entertaining story for readers in search of a literary
escape. Known for his works of fiction and nonfiction on the possibility
of Germany invading Britain--a paranoia common in the early twentieth
century--William Le Queux also wrote dozens of thrillers and adventure
novels for a dedicated public audience. Although critical acclaim eluded
him, popular success made him one of England's bestselling writers. In
Zoraida: A Romance, an English adventurer named Cecil Holcombe
journeys on horseback across the Sahara Desert in search of a caravan
belonging to Ali Ben Hafiz. Catching up with the men and camels bound
for a faraway town, Holcombe gains their trust with his mastery of
Arabic and respect of their cultural customs. After sharing a meal in
the shade of a stony shelter, the caravan, bound for the Touat Oasis,
continues on its way. When an ill omen occurs, Ali Ben Hafiz warns
Holcombe against falling in love with a local woman, instead suggesting
the Englishman return to his country to live a life in peace with a wife
and family. Undeterred by danger, however, Holcombe ignores the man's
prophecy, and soon falls into the trap of the beautiful Zoraida.
Zoraida: A Romance is a tale of mystery and danger set in the
beautiful desert of southern Algeria, and remains fresh and exciting
over a century after it was published. With a beautifully designed cover
and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le
Queux's Zoraida: A Romance is a classic adventure novel reimagined for
modern readers.
