The Rainbird: A Central African Journey

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding "literary journalism"
Review: "The Rainbird: A Central African Journey" by Jan Brokken is an outstanding book. Brokken is a Dutch travel writer and novelist (sort of a Dutch Paul Theroux). He took a trip to Gabon in the 1990's and writes about his experiences, but what's really impressive is his knowledge and presentation of Gabonese history and the historical literature written by people like mystery writer Georges Simenon; explorers like Paul du Chaillu, Count Brazza, Henry Morton Stanley, and Mary Kingsley; physician philosopher Albert Schweitzer; and Gabonese historian Andre Raponda-Walker. Brokken tells the stories of the Gabonese kings and peoples; the conflicts between the coastal and the inland populations; and the 19th century migrations of the Fang (including some interesting ideas on that central African bugaboo, cannibalism). I was a Peace Corps volunteer there. This is probably the most interesting and best written book about Gabon that I have read. Even if you've never been to Gabon, or even Africa, this is a very good and informative mix of travel essay and history. Well worth reading. I very much hope Brokken's other books about Africa will be translated into English.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding "literary journalism"
Review: "The Rainbird: A Central African Journey" by Jan Brokken is an outstanding book. Brokken is a Dutch travel writer and novelist (sort of a Dutch Paul Theroux). He took a trip to Gabon in the 1990's and writes about his experiences, but what's really impressive is his knowledge and presentation of Gabonese history and the historical literature written by people like mystery writer Georges Simenon; explorers like Paul du Chaillu, Count Brazza, Henry Morton Stanley, and Mary Kingsley; physician philosopher Albert Schweitzer; and Gabonese historian Andre Raponda-Walker. Brokken tells the stories of the Gabonese kings and peoples; the conflicts between the coastal and the inland populations; and the 19th century migrations of the Fang (including some interesting ideas on that central African bugaboo, cannibalism). I was a Peace Corps volunteer there. This is probably the most interesting and best written book about Gabon that I have read. Even if you've never been to Gabon, or even Africa, this is a very good and informative mix of travel essay and history. Well worth reading. I very much hope Brokken's other books about Africa will be translated into English.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating book on the minutia of Gabon
Review: Admittedly, I am fascinated by books about jungles and Africa. I you are the sort of person who wants to learn more about the colonization and state of affairs in Gabon in the 1960s, this is the book for you. The book is well written. The version that I read is an English translation of a book originally published in Dutch. The book reads well and thus I assume that it is well translated. The author manages a long journey down a major river system in Gabon and meets some interesting people along the way. The characters in the text, either historical figures or individuals encountered by Brokken in his travels in Gabon, come alive and capture the reader's imagination. This is not a book for every reader but if you are interested in arm chair adventure and equatorial Africa, buy this little gem. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.