Henryk Sienkiewicz 
In Desert and Wilderness 

First published in 1912, ‘In Desert and Wilderness’ is a novel for children by Polish author and Nobel Prize-winning novelist Henryk Sienkiewicz. 



‘In Desert and Wilderness’ is set in the 19th century and tells the story of two children, Staś Tarkowski and Nel Rawlison, and their adventures as they cross the African desert and jungle. During the journey they face lions, leopards and malaria, make friends with desert tribespeople and an elephant, and learn about some harsh realities of life. 

An unusual ‘coming of age’ story!



For Henryk Sienkiewicz, ‘In Desert and Wilderness’ represented a final triumph; this was the last novel he would complete. Sienkiewicz, who had visited Africa in 1891, successfully recreates in the book the beauty he encountered amid the continent’s entrancing landscape. Written over eighty years ago for a younger audience, but appealing to all ages, ‘In Desert and Wilderness’ remains a literary treasure in Poland.