Warrior King (African Writers Series ; 163)

Warrior King is that rarity in the African Writers Series, a historical novel. It is the exciting and fast-moving story of the rise of Kassa Hailu to become Emperor Teowodros II, or Theodore as he has been called. Sahle Sellassie has drawn on the full richness of 19th century Ethiopian history to show a strong man reuniting the provinces of the Empire. The epic story is given human proportions by being introduced through the eyes of a peasant boy, Gebreye. He joins Kassa Hailu's outlaw band which sets out to destroy a corrupt regime of usurpers.