By Percy F. Westerman
Published by Blackie And Son Limited: London c1916 (undated - prize plate dated 1916 - possible 1st edition)
"Captured at Tripoli is a classic Edwardian boys' adventure novel by Percy F. Westerman, one of the most prolific writers of juvenile fiction in the early twentieth century. First published by Blackie & Son in 1912, the story is set against the backdrop of the Italo-Turkish War in North Africa and follows two British youths who become embroiled in a series of dangerous exploits after being captured by hostile tribesmen near Tripoli. Combining military adventure, exploration, and survival themes, the novel reflects the style of popular imperial adventure fiction that captivated young readers before the First World War.
The narrative centres upon a perilous journey across the deserts of Libya and the fringes of the Sahara, where the protagonists face imprisonment, escape, and encounters with both friend and foe. Westerman blends real historical events with imaginative adventure, introducing hidden ruins, mysterious discoveries, and a lost community descended from medieval Crusaders. These elements transform the novel from a straightforward war story into a sweeping tale of exploration and romance in the tradition of G.A. Henty and other celebrated adventure writers of the period.
This illustrated Blackie edition, attractively bound in striking pictorial cloth and featuring artwork by Charles M. Sheldon, represents a particularly desirable form of the book. The present copy carries a Melbourne Sunday School prize plate dated December 1916, providing useful provenance and confirming the book was in circulation in Australia during the First World War. Such contemporary prize presentations add historical interest, offering a tangible connection to the educational and religious institutions that distributed quality adventure literature to young readers throughout the British Empire."
