Karintsev (Dudel’) N.A.: In the African Forests

Title

V lesakh Afriki, “Iunaia Rossiia”, 1913, n. 8-12

In the African Forests

Keywords

Summary

In the African Forests is an adaptation of the novel My Kalulu, Prince, King, and Slave by Henry Stanley (1873). In a footnote, Karintsev presents the events he narrates as a true story, which had been told to Stanley during his time in Zanzibar. In fact, though the names of the main protagonists (Kalulu and Selim) coincide with those of Stanley’s adopted son – a young black slave whom he freed and brought to Europe – and of his interpreter, it is a work of fiction which at the core has the theme of slavery and a great male friendship. Indeed, Stanley intended the book to be read by “those clever, bright-eyed, intelligent boys, of all classes, who have begun to be interested in romantic literature”, and to whom he wished to impart a lesson on the terrible custom of slavery. Set in Zanzibar, the novel revolves around two young men, one an “Arab” (Selim), the other a “Negro” (Kalulu), who become friends against all odds, and have to face together adventures and challenges in a country still pervaded by slavery.

Originally published in the journal “Iunaia Rossiia”, Karintsev’s adaptation also appeared as a volume with the title Two Friends. From Life in the African Forests (1915), illustrated by Sergei Ploshinskii.

Bio

Nikolai Karintsev (born Dudel’) was a Russian and Soviet writer and translator. Born in Odessa, he moved to Saint Petersburg to complete his studies at the Peter the Great Polytechnic institute. He translated from several languages (French, Swedish, English, Dutch), and adapted many novels and short stories for children. He was also the author of popular biographies of renowned musicians, like Mozart, Verdi, Paganini, Beethoven. He is mostly remembered for his contribution to children’s literature, and especially for his novel Around the World on an Aeroplane (1926).

Sources

“Karintsev Nikolai Aleksandrovich”, in Sovetskie detskie pisateli, Moskva 1961, p. 175-176;

E. Sholok, “Karintsev, Nikolai Aleksandrovich”, in Kratkaia literaturnaia entsiklopediia, t. 3, Moskva 1966, clmn. 408-409;

R. Aldrich, Colonialism and Homosexuality, London-New York, 2003, p. 36-47 (on Stanley’s novel).

A.F.

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