The Dust Diaries : Seeking the African Legacy of Arthur Cripps

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing Story Brilliantly Told
Review: As an avid reader of history and historical novels I found this book both extremely enjoyable to read and insightful on a topic I knew little about.

Owen Sheers' poetic and descriptive style draws the reader into this fascinating story about his great uncle. His personal quest to understand this missionary's life adds an autobiographical element which brings the reader closer to the story.

Mr. Sheer achieves a fine balance in combining historical fact with the novel elements of the story. As a result, the reader comes to appreciate how special Arthur Cripps was as a person and what drove him to become a unique and sympathetic missionary.

I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: His passion for preserving indigenous ways ostracized him
Review: At a family reunion poet Owen Sheers heard the story of obscure relative Arthur Cripps, who turned from poetry to missionary work in Africa and became a powerful local figure. Cripps' passion for preserving indigenous ways ostracized him from his peers and led to a revolt against colonial injustice, exiling Cripps from the Anglican Church. Sheers' investigation of his relative led him from Oxford to Zimbabwe in an effort to re-trace Arthur Cripps' life and experiences.