Bogen, K.: Tamira, the Queen of Madagascar. A Short Story

Title

Tamira, koroleva Madagaskarskaia. Rasskaz, Moskva 1912 (first edition: 1901)

Tamira, the Queen of Madagascar. A Short Story

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Summary

The book, written in the first person, is divided into five chapters. A French soldier, wounded in the war between England and France, receives an invitation to join an expedition to Madagascar, in order to form an alliance with the powerful queen Tamira. As he is entering the Bombetoka Bay, a large boat approaches, and a Portugues named Carvalo introduces the travellers to the vice-king. Carvalo agrees to be their interpreter and to accompany them to visit the queen. In chapter two, the narrator resumes his journey on a boat, admiring the landscape, but a crocodile sighting prompts a gun pull, halted by the translator. Chapter three describes a human sacrifice, which leads to a journey on foot through a swamp to reach the city. In chapter four, the narrator describes the city’s humble palace and its tiny streets. Following an official dinner, the travellers prepare to meet the queen in chapter five. Discussions about a possible military alliance, however, lead to nothing concrete, and the queen herself, during the conversation, does nothing but smokes her pipe. As the tension rises, the narrator realises that the interpreter is misleading him. It is revealed that Madagascar has already been visited by the English, who have spoken badly of the French and have given expensive gifts to the queen. As a result, she was not interested in an alliance with France, and the expedition turned out to be a failure.

M.E.

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