Africa Books

This book is a gorgeous coffee-table volume. It is divided into sections by time periods beginning in the 1840s and continues to the present. Each chapter is introduced with an in-depth discussion of what was happening at that time, then moves to captioned photos. The book is large, 10"x12", and is presented on heavy, high quality paper; a pleasure to hold and look at! My only criticism is that readability was sacrificed for design. The type is very small and, therefore, difficult to read, and the caption reference number below each photo is mircoscopic. Also, even though I'm sure the photos were reproduced perfectly, some are hard to make out (what do I expect for 100+ year old photos!) I recommend this book whether you are interested in this subject, interested in photography or just love beautiful books.

This is an absolutely gorgeous book, very comprehensive and tons of excellent pictures

Despite his stuffy early-20th century journalistic style, Mr. Stoddard has an admirable blend of narrative eloquence and historical plotting. The tale of the sad land now known as Haiti is as repugnant a fable as can be imagined; yet Stoddard doggedly plows through it, with every atrocity and mass-murder duly noted. It is a signal warning to modern Americans.

Santo Domingo is now Haiti. It has the dual distinction of being the first nation freed as a result of a slave revolt--and as the poorest land in the Western Hemisphere, despite a lush natural environment.

One clue to Haiti's poverty might be the total politcal chaos that ensues and has done since the Revolution--a reaction to the political vacuum left over resulting from the Revolution in France proper and mirroring many of the excesses of "the Terror."

The near immediate genocide of the white elite at the hands of the former slaves, and the disease-decimation of Napoleon's forces struggling to reunite the island with France led to economic and politcal chaos and the imposition of self-proclaimed emperors and dictators, many of whom fell victim to assassination, coup and exile.

Another element is outside interference, often in the name of "human rights"--twice from the US (1915 and 1994) alone.

A Mulatto elite is in a constant struggle for power against the ex-slaves who represent the bulk of the population.

Stoddard dispassionately chronicles the spiral into anarchy in this dispassionate--and highly researched--book. An indispesible addition to any library for anyone interested in history, culture, racism and human rights.

This is the autobiographical story of a writer in the depths of grief for his sister's death, and depression, who feels the answer lies in Africa. So he packs up himself, his daughter, and his wife (CBS's Lesley Stahl) and heads off to safari in Africa.
He gives a vivid and insightful description of his own internal and external journeys. Along the way he meets some of the giants of research in Africa (Craig Sholley's work with gorillas, Cynthia Moss with elephants, Richard Leakey with early man), and reports their insights into their work and the significance of Africa to each of us.
This out-of-stock book is well worth searching out at your library or book dealer.

The Kirkus review is unfair and off-the-mark.
This is the autobiographical story of writer Aaron Latham in the depths of grief for his sister's death, and depression, who feels the answer lies in Africa. So he packs up himself, his daughter, and his wife (CBS's Lesley Stahl) and heads off to safari in Africa.
He gives a vivid and insightful description of his own internal and external journeys. Along the way he meets some of the giants of research in Africa (Craig Sholley's work with gorillas, Cynthia Moss with elephants, Richard Leakey with early man), and reports their insights into their work and the significance of Africa to each of us.
This out-of-stock book is well worth searching out at your library or book dealer.

I reside in Libreville, Gabon and have not, until now, been able to find much literature about this place in English ... or French for that matter. Then this little gem was published! I take this little book with me everywhere I go, I make a point of consulting it before I plan a trip, ... where to eat in Cocobeach, where to stay in Nyonie, where to shop in Libreville ... it's all in there. I found a couple of phone numbers misprinted, but aside from that, the information on each of the places I have been to is up to date, useful and correct. This book tells it like it is, the good, the bad and the ugly! I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of visiting or living in Gabon.

I actually only visited São Tomé and I have to say that this guide, although short, is very detailed, both in terms of the historical background and of the present. The approach is straightforward and going through the places, and talking with the people, feels very close to what is described in the guide. Sophie did a great job in capturing the county's spirit.

A great pocketguide for animal species identification. A must have for the amature naturalist going to this area.

This plastic coated leaflet has excellent illustrations of creatures you are likely to see in the Galapagos Islands. We found it excellent for identifying birds and other creatures in the field and in our photographs later. There is not much information beyond the pictures and names and it is not fully comprehensive. For example, it does not deal with all the finches. For its purpose, its size, weight and durability are excellent and its simplicity makes it very quick to use

In 1899 in London a group of geographers, scholars, and traders decided it was time to solve Africa's mysteries: they formed the African Association, the world's first geographical society, and several over decades sent adventurers to explore the 'dark continent'. These early adventurers were to change the image and shape of Africa, and Anthony Sattin describes their journeys of adventure in The Gates Of Africa, lending a lively and engrossing atmosphere of adventure and discovery to the account. Sattin is a journalist and broadcaster who himself has traveled extensively over the region in which the early African Association operated: his personal familiarity with the area lends Gates Of Africa an additional air of authority.

A truly compelling and rivetting tale of the early exploration of Africa. By "early" I mean the previously little documented period of 1788-1830, prior to which virtually nothing was known of Africa's interior probably because almost all earlier travellers perished from thirst, starvation, disease, and hostile natives - most dangerous of all were the dreaded "Moors", whose self-proclaimed desert hospitality was invariably suspended whenever helpless and starving white explorers sought their compassion.

Virtually all the explorers sponsored by the African Association died on their journeys but decadent 21st century man must surely marvel at the incredible degree of honour and sense of duty possessed by these intrepid late 18th/early 19th century gentleman explorers.

The volumes in Betterway's "Genealogist's Guide" series have been genrally excellent in leading researchers through the special problems, situations, and resources connected with non-Anglo-European-male ancestors. Anyone, even an otherwise experienced family historian, who has attempted to develop a black lineage more than three or four generations back in the United States knows the historical and social problems involved often are considerable - but they aren't insurmountable, as the authors show. Smith, a Houston librarian with legal training, learned early of the reluctance of his elderly relatives to discuss the "slave days" and of the tendency of black genealogists to end their quest with the 1870 census. He begins with the basics, the stuff we all learned (or should have) in the first year of research, but slants it toward the necessities of African-American history, including the need to deal with frequent name-changes, "consulting the elders," and evaluating family stories (both of which are especially important here). Likewise, in reading the federal census schedules, one must understand what was meant, both officially and locally, by "colored" and "mulatto," the definitions of which changed over time. Military service records, an important resource in most white pedigrees, are more problematic for black lineages before World War II. Church records are proportionately more important. Smith gives considerable space to the use of white (i.e., slaveholding) family records in tracing black families, and to the proper use of the federal census slave schedules -- subjects few of us have much experience with. Finally, he relates all this through three extended cases drawn from his own family research which exemplify the techniques and adjusted mind-sets he explained earlier. They're well written, carefully worked out, and inspirational as well as informative, and are worth the price of admission by themselves.

This book is so informative that I have also given it as a gift. The case studies were great. I was able to conduct more systematic research after reading this book.

For those interested in the genus Conophytum this book has to be an absolute must. Although the book is a full blown reference book Hammer's writing style is easy and there is no reason why anyone interested could not read it from cover to cover, rather than just use it a reference tool.

The photographs are superb and the plants almost leap off the page at you. The book is well produced and print and paper quality are excellent. Essential for a book that will be used on a regular basis.

It cannot be faulted and should be in the library of every enthusiast of these beautiful plants.

This botanical work is, quite simply, a classic. The author is the world's authority on his subject, genus Conophytum. Steve Hammer is a natural-born writer and his prose is clear and concise, while also being delightfully witty and informal. For me the most attractive aspect of the book isthe many, many color photographs by John Trager. They make anyone want to grow conophytums! Some plants are photographed to show their rainbow of colors; they are delicious looking.

Yet beyond the wit and color, this is a botanical monograph and will be for many years to come the standard reference on the genus. The book is laid out logically, with chapters devoted to each series within the two sections/subgenera. The early chapters talk about the group's taxonomic history, its cultivation and so forth.

All in all, I not only recommend this book; I urge you to peruse it!

This book is gorgeously illustrated with lots of graphics taken from authentic textiles and pottery. The legends are written in an easy to read narrative style and take readers from ancient myths through to modern theories on the history of this region. Highly recommended

I used this book as the text to give 28 6th Graders an introduction to the wealth of Africa's past--and they hung on every word. The mix of storytelling, political, economic, cultural and religious history served as the basis for several lively student presentations. In short, my only complaint about this book is the fact that its out-of-print status prevents me from ordering copies by the dozen for next year's class.

Publishers--Please get on the ball. With the addition of these African Kingdoms to the Virginia State Standards of Learning, you have an eager market and a product that beats anything else now on the market for this age group.

I read this book years ago and it has always stuck in my mind. I am glad to have found it again.

The story is fiction because it revolves around some Americans who supposedly found themselves in von Lettow's army. But the historical setting and many of the characters and events are real.

When WWI broke out, the small number of German troops in German East Africa (now Tanzania) rallied and trained the local tribes and the resident German farmers into a guerilla force to resist the much larger British army to the north in Kenya. The book details some of the tactics used, as well some remarkable inventiveness.

Paul von Lettow, the commander, had an ensemble of talent in his army's baggage train that proved very handy. There was a German fellow named Ersatz who invented a lot of things out of local ingredients. (Because the Royal Navy pretty much owned the seas, there was no resupply for the German soldiers in Africa.) Everyone knows what "ersatz" means now - but this campaign is where the concept got its name!

Like a medieval army, this one had no formal logistical support. It relied on many camp followers, including women and children, to keep the army fed and supplied. Many of these womens' efforts and what life was like for them in the field are described.

One incredible tale told of an Imperial Navy vessel marooned in the Rufiji Delta. Some of the German farmers had domesticated African elephants, and used then to haul guns off the ship up the slopes of Kilmanjaro to shoot at the British army. It sounds highly implausible, but Stevenson gives evidence for many of the points in his story at the end of the book.

This is one of those books where you learn a lot while reading a great story. Stevenson claims that von Lettow knew that the Germans couldn't hold East Africa, and that he felt he was just laying the groundwork for an African country free from future British rule. Whether this is true or historical revisionism I don't know, but the Tanzanian people did build a statue honoring von Lettow in Arusha several years later.

"Ghosts of Africa" is a great title, as it refers to an incredible story that not many people know - at least in the USA. It is the reverse of "the African Queen" - and far more interesting!

This novel really captures a lost part of Africa. It details the German resistance in Africa during WWI. The germans were led by german noble named Paul Von Lettow. For four years they tied down nearly half a million british troops with barely 12,000 of there own. Von Lettow wrote the book on guerilla warfare although he is largely forgotten today. The book contains a great cast of characters in addtion to Von Lettow, many of whom were based on real people. The book has plenty of action and romance. I highly recommend it.