 Cover of 1976 Heinemann first edition | |
| Author | Wilbur Smith |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Heinemann |
Publication date | 1976 |
| ISBN | 0434714097 |
Cry Wolf is a novel by Wilbur Smith set during the 1935 Italian invasion of Ethiopia. [1] [2]
The plot is set minorly in Dar-es-Salaam and majorly in the Ethiopian desert-lands sometime in the 1930s, just as the Axis powers were starting to pursue their colonial ambitions.
The novel starts off in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Jake Barton, an engineer from Texas, and Major Gareth Swales, a British hustler, form an uneasy alliance in order to refurbish four armoured cars which Swales is planning to sell to an Ethiopian prince, Lij Mikhael. During their meeting and proposed selling, they meet the American reporter Victoria "Vicky" Campbell and both the men are smitten at once. Later the Lij tells them that he is buying the armoured cars as well the ammunition to fight the Italians, who are planning an invasion of Ethiopia, but owing to an international embargo imposed on Ethiopia, he can not import weapons by himself and consequently asks Swales to smuggle the cars into Ethiopia via French and British Somaliland. He also dispatches the services of his nephew Gregarious to help. Vicky also volunteers to help. The four of them ship the cars in a slave ship, then drive it from the seashore across the desert to the Ethiopian highlands, where they are met by the Ras Gholum and the Ethiopian people.
On the Italian side, Colonel Count Aldo Belli has been ordered the task of securing the Wells of Chaldi, a seemingly barren piece of land where it seems there will be no action taking place, in order to remove him from the more important locations which require more battle-hardened personnel, contrary to the Count who gets the position owing to his proximity to Mussolini. He sets off to the Wells, engaging in all forms of luxury at the cost of time and hardships for his comrades, and with the help of his trusted Major Luigi Castelani, manages to engage the Ethiopians in an ambush, and inflates the amount of losses caused by him and his men.
The Lij then requests Barton and Swales to stay and help the Ethiopians, in the process enlisting the help of another Ras. Unknowing to him, this Ras has betrayed him to the Italians. After a whirlwind of events, Vicky starts falling in love with Jake. The Italians, on the other hand, start their invasion plans.
At the end, with all the best efforts of the Ethiopians, the Italians break down their defences and reache the town of Sardi, which had been the rally point for the protagonists. With nowhere to go, Vicky, Sara, Gregarious and Jake get into the plane, with a severely injured Gareth who was shot by the invading Italian forces.
Menelik II, baptised as Sahle Maryam was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death in 1913 and King of Shewa from 1866 to 1889. At the height of his internal power and external prestige, the process of territorial expansion and creation of the modern empire-state was completed by 1898. He is widely honored by many Ethiopians and commemorated during the celebration of the Battle of Adwa, which is celebrated on March 1 or 2 across Ethiopia and in the diaspora. Many Pan-Africans regard him as an advocate for African independence against European powers during the Scramble for Africa.
Lij Iyasu, , was the designated Emperor of Ethiopia from 1913 to 1916. His baptismal name was Kifle Yaqob. Ethiopian emperors traditionally chose their regnal name on the day they were crowned, and since he was never crowned, he is usually referred to as Lij Iyasu, "Lij" meaning child, especially one born of royal blood.
RasAbebe Aregai was an Ethiopian military commander who, during the Italian occupation, led a group of resistance fighters that operated in Menz and Shewa. The British IWM labeled Abebe “one of the bravest man in the modern world.” He later served as Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 27 November 1957 until his death. He was a victim of the unsuccessful 1960 Ethiopian coup. Abebe was the grandchild of the famous Oromo chief Ras Gobena Dache, whose 1880s military expeditions led to the expansion of Ethiopia’s modern borders.
Going Solo is a book by Roald Dahl, first published by Jonathan Cape in London in 1986. It is a continuation of his autobiography describing his childhood, Boy and detailed his travel to Africa and exploits as a World War II pilot.
Dessie is a city and a zone in north-central Ethiopia. Located in the Amhara Region, it sits at a latitude and longitude of 11°8′N39°38′E, with an elevation between 2,470 and 2,550 metres above sea level. Dessie is 400 km to the north of the capital Addis Ababa. It has a population of more than 200,000 people in over 30 districts.
The Battle of Segale, fought on 27 October 1916, was a victory for the supporters of Empress Zewditu over those of Lij Iyasu. Henze states that "Segale was Ethiopia's greatest battle since Adwa" (1896).
Darge Sahle Selassie was an Ethiopian prince. He was the son of Negus Sahle Selassie of Shewa and half-brother to Negus Haile Melekot, and the uncle of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia.
RasDesta Damtew was an Ethiopian noble, an army commander, and a son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie I.
Prince (Abeto Lij) Girma Yohannes Iyasu is the Iyasuist claimant to the throne of Ethiopia. He is also known by the name Professor Dr. Girma Amente Ghebresillasie.
Born in Morogoro (Tanzania), Ras Nas, aka Nasibu Mwanukuzi, is a musician and poet from Tanzania who blends African music and reggae with a dash of poetry. Ras Nas' latest album, Dar-es-Salaam, contains roots reggae, soukous and dub poetry. It is released by Kongoi Productions, KonPro. Dar es Salaam has received a five star review in one of Norway's biggest dailies, Dagsavisen.
The Battle of Ganale Doria was a battle in 1936 during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. It was fought on the "southern front". The battle consisted largely of air attacks by the Italian Royal Air Force, under the command of General Rodolfo Graziani, against an advancing and then withdrawing Ethiopian army under Ras Desta Damtu. The battle was primarily fought in the area along the Genale Doria River valley between Dolo and Negele Boran.
The March of the Iron Will was an Italian Fascist propaganda event staged from 26 April to 5 May 1936, during the final days of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The goal of the march was to capture the Ethiopian capital in a show of force. An Italian mechanized column under the command of Pietro Badoglio, Marshal of Italy, advanced from the town of Dessie to take Addis Ababa. The march covered a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km).
The Imperial Order of Solomon was an order of knighthood of the Ethiopian Empire founded in 1874. A special class Collar was created by Empress Zauditu in 1922. It was a split off from the Order of the Seal of Solomon and created as an independent order with a single grade of "Collar" by Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1930. Members are identified as a "Knight" of the Order of Solomon, with the use the post-nominal initials KS.
David Gordon Hines was a chartered accountant who as a British colonial administrator developed farming co-operatives in Tanganyika and later in Uganda. This radically improved the living standards of farmers in their transition from subsistence farming to cash crops. When he was responsible for development throughout Uganda, some 500,000 farmers joined co-operatives.
Le'ul RasMengesha Seyoum is a member of the imperial family of the Ethiopian Empire. In 1974, the monarchy was abolished by the Derg, a communist military junta.
NegusMikael of Wollo, born Ras Mohammed Ali was an army commander and a member of the nobility of the Ethiopian Empire. He was the father of the "uncrowned" Emperor Lij Iyasu, and the grandfather of Empress Menen, wife of Emperor Haile Sellassie. He changed his name to Mikael upon converting to Christianity.
Gugsa Araya Selassie was an army commander and a member of the royal family of the Ethiopian Empire.
Hailu Tekle Haymanot (1868–1950), also named Hailu II of Gojjam, was an army commander and a member of the nobility of the Ethiopian Empire. He represented a provincial ruling elite who were often at odds with the Ethiopian central government. Hailu Tekle Haymanot was an independent-minded potentate who, throughout his life, was mistrustful of and mistrusted by the Emperor.
Belay Zeleke was an outstanding leader of the patriots in Gojjam, who participated in the resistance against the Italians during the occupation. He emerged as a brigand leader to become a national hero after his five-year struggle against Italian rule in Ethiopia.
Lij Seifu Mikael was an Ethiopian noble belonging to the aristocratic Amhara family from Ankober Shewa. He was the grandson of Dejazmach Mekuria Tesfaye of Menz, a prominent general and relative of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. A public figure, educated in Paris at Sorbonne; one of the first few nobles who started paying salaries to their household servants advocating freedom of slaves and an avid supporter of Ras Tafari in his bid to become an emperor of Ethiopia.