The African Queen (novel)

The African Queen

Company type	Novel
Industry	Literature
Founded	1935
Founder	C. S. Forester

The African Queen is a 1935 novel penned by British writer C. S. Forester, which was later transformed into a 1951 motion picture sharing the same title.

Plot summary

Set in August and September of 1914, the story follows Rose Sayer, a 33-year-old British woman who serves as companion and housekeeper to her brother Samuel, a Methodist missionary stationed in German East Africa. With the outbreak of World War I, the German Schutztruppe commander has conscripted all local natives, leaving the village deserted except for Rose and her ailing brother. After Samuel passes away, Allnutt, a Cockney mechanic from London and captain of the steam-powered launch African Queen, arrives. The vessel, owned by a Belgian mining firm, operates on the Ulanga River. Allnutt’s two-man crew has deserted amid rumors of war. He buries Samuel and invites Rose aboard.

The African Queen carries provisions including canned food and two hundredweight of blasting gelignite, along with tanks containing oxygen and hydrogen. Motivated by patriotism and a desire to avenge her brother’s humiliation at the hands of the Germans, Rose discovers that the principal German defense is the gunboat Königin Luise, which patrols Lake Wittelsbach. She suggests transforming the gelignite into an improvised torpedo. Allnutt formulates a plan to load the gelignite into emptied tanks attached to the bow, equipped with detonators, effectively converting their launch into a large-scale torpedo. They embark down the Ulanga River.

Their voyage encounters three major obstacles: passing through German-occupied Shona, navigating rapids and cataracts, and crossing the river delta. Near Shona, Allnutt falters under enemy fire and becomes intoxicated; Rose compels him to proceed by pouring out his gin and withholding communication. Approaching Shona at midday, the Germans mistakenly assume surrender; when they open fire, the launch suffers minor damage but manages to pass safely.

They spend several days shooting rapids; reconciled and invigorated, Allnutt reveals his first name is Charlie and they become romantically involved. After striking rocks damages the driveshaft and propeller, they anchor and spend weeks conducting underwater repairs without beaching. Using improvised tools, Allnutt straightens the shaft and fashions a new propeller blade from scrap metal. They continue their journey into the Bora River leading to the lake; Rose becomes skilled at steering through complex river conditions.

Crossing the river delta proves arduous—biting insects, malaria, heat, thunderstorms—and they laboriously drag the launch through reeds and mud over several weeks before reaching the lake.

Concealed in reeds, they assemble their torpedo: releasing gas from tanks to fill them with gelignite packed in mud, securing them at waterline holes on the bow with detonators made from nails and revolver cartridges. Observing Königin Luise’s routines, they select a night attack when it is anchored nearby. Both agree to pilot together but a storm sinks their launch during the assault; Rose and Allnutt swim to safety.

Separated by the storm, they are captured by German forces and brought before Königin Luise’s captain as suspected spies. They refuse to disclose how they reached the lake; however, he identifies them from "African Queen" marked on Rose’s life-saver. Choosing not to execute them, he hands them over under truce to the British naval commander who imprisons them dismissively while attacking Königin Luise. After sinking it with reinforcements, he dispatches Rose and Allnutt to meet the British Consul on the coast and advises Allnutt to enlist in the South African Army. They agree to request marriage upon reaching him.

Background

The MV Liemba, which was initially known as SMS Graf von Goetzen during the First World War, served as the inspiration for the German gunboat featured in the narrative.

Adaptations

The story was transformed into the 1951 motion picture The African Queen, with Humphrey Bogart playing Charlie Allnutt and Katharine Hepburn portraying Rose Sayer. In this adaptation, Allnutt is depicted as Canadian to align with Bogart's accent, and the church affiliation is altered from Anglican to Methodist, despite some inconsistencies in this portrayal. Following the destruction of the African Queen, the storyline takes a notably different direction.

Bogart revisited his role in a 1952 Lux Radio Theatre broadcast alongside Greer Garson.

In 1977, CBS released a one-hour television film titled The African Queen, intended as a pilot episode for a potential series chronicling further exploits of the Alnutts, featuring performances by Warren Oates and Mariette Hartley.

A 2015 dramatization on BBC Radio 4 starring Samantha Bond and Toby Jones adhered closely to the original novel’s storyline.