Rajah Hawke by Paul Raffaele

Rajah Hawke is a compelling adventure novel set in the early 19th century. In the dangerous Borneo jungles, the indigenous hero leads Dyak headhunters in successfully battling their cruel Brunei sultanate colonial rulers to gain independence. The novel resonates with exciting adventure – charismatic characters, the hero’s romance with a feisty princess, epic battles on sea and land, the fierce Dyaks and warlike Brunei princes.

In the climactic battle at the Brunei capital, the Dyaks, led by Hawke, defeat the Sultan’s troops. The sultan agrees to the Dyaks’ demand that Brunei return their land, and recognize Hawke as its Rajah. 

About the author: Paul has had six narrative non-fiction books published, including two with HarperCollins New York, all adventure on all continents.

He was a Reader’s Digest award-winning foreign correspondent specializing in nonfiction adventure. Up to a hundred million readers in 19 languages read each feature. Paul moved to Smithsonian magazine as the top feature writer. The Washington Post published a 1,400-word positive profile of him on pages 1 and 2 of its Style section, stating that he ‘… could be the last of the great old-fashioned adventure writers.’ 

Based in Australia now, Paul's wife is from Northwestern Borneo, the novel’s location where they previously lived for a year.