Overview

Radama- the young, savvy ruler of the rising military power in Madagascar. Robert Townsend Farquhar- governor of the British island colony of Mauritius, whose plantation economy depends on slave labor. James Hastie- an enterprising East India Company sergeant, ready to take on a risky mission. In the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, as Britain and France face off in the southwest Indian Ocean, the destinies of these three characters intertwine. Will the British cut a deal to end the export of slaves from Madagascar, and if so at what cost? Will Radama, with Hastie by his side, win the internal power struggle against nobles and clan chieftains? Hastie' s previously unpublished journals offer the most comprehensive early 19th century account of Madagascar, its landscape, crops, industry, commerce, culture, and inhabitants, and weave a narrative of hazardous travel, byzantine court intrigue and colonial geopolitics. Sir Mervyn Brown, a former UK ambassador and historian of Madagascar, has described Hastie as "" one of the most important and attractive figures in the history of Anglo-Malagasy relations.""

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Reviews

"Advance Praise for Mission to Madagascar: ""Weaves together a colorful and finely detailed account of how ending 200 years of slave trading in Madagascar depended upon the trust between a British soldier and a tribal king."" ––Jean Andrews, award-winning documentary producer and science writer; ""The waning days of the Napoleonic wars combined with the suspension of the British slave trade and court intrigue all play a part in this well researched historical narrative that paints a vivid picture of an island nation struggling to embrace modern Europe while retaining a sense of dignity and independence."" –– Pete Kosky, author and historian; ""Hastie’s description of the island and his encounters with the people and their cultures provide a stunning backdrop to what is truly an amazing adventure story."" ––Donna M. DeBlasio, PhD, Professor Emerita, History and Applied History, Youngstown State University; ""David Mould is a master at breathing life into history."" ––Kamellia Smith, former reporter for Tempo"

Advance Praise for Mission to Madagascar: Weaves together a colorful and finely detailed account of how ending 200 years of slave trading in Madagascar depended upon the trust between a British soldier and a tribal king. --Jean Andrews, award-winning documentary producer and science writer; The waning days of the Napoleonic wars combined with the suspension of the British slave trade and court intrigue all play a part in this well researched historical narrative that paints a vivid picture of an island nation struggling to embrace modern Europe while retaining a sense of dignity and independence. -- Pete Kosky, author and historian; Hastie's description of the island and his encounters with the people and their cultures provide a stunning backdrop to what is truly an amazing adventure story. --Donna M. DeBlasio, PhD, Professor Emerita, History and Applied History, Youngstown State University; David Mould is a master at breathing life into history. --Kamellia Smith, former reporter for Tempo

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