Blake's Burden by Harold Bindloss is an adventure novel set against the backdrop of British colonialism in Africa. The story follows the protagonist, Blake, as he navigates the complex world of colonial administration and political intrigue. As an imperial officer, Blake grapples with the weight of his duties and the challenges of leadership in a land marked by conflict and social issues. The novel explores themes of heroism and honor amidst the broader context of imperialism and exploration. Bindloss delves into the impact of colonialism on both the colonizers and the indigenous populations, highlighting issues of corruption and cultural encounters. Set in the early 20th century, Blake's Burden provides a compelling examination of the responsibilities and moral dilemmas faced by those involved in colonial rule. The narrative combines adventure with a critical look at the consequences of imperial ambitions.
Harold Edward Bindloss was an English novelist who published a number of adventure tales set in western Canada, as well as in England and West Africa. His writing was mostly based on his own experiences as a seaman, dock worker, farmer, and planter. Bindloss was born on April 6, 1866 in Wavertree, Liverpool, England. The eldest son of Edward Williams Bindloss, an iron dealer who employed six men at the time of the 1881 census. Bindloss has three sisters and four brothers. He spent several years at sea and in several colonies, most notably in Africa, before, returning to England in 1896, his health ravaged by malaria. He appears to have started out as a clerk in a shipping office, but this did not suit his adventurous nature, and he later became a farmer in Canada, a sailor, a dock worker, and a planter. He returned to England in 1896, likely from West Africa, afflicted with malaria. Given that he spent more than a decade at sea and in the colonies, it is likely that his time overseas was divided into two parts: first as a youth, and then as a young man, after, 1891.
