Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart

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A compulsively readable account of a journey to the Congo a country virtually inaccessible to the outside world vividly told by a daring and adventurous journalist.Ever since Stanley first charted its mighty river in the 1870s, the Congo has epitomized the dark and turbulent history of a failed continent However, its troubles only served to increase the interest of Daily Telegraph correspondent Tim Butcher, who was sent to cover Africa in 2000 Before long he became obsessed with the idea of recreating Stanley s original expedition but travelling alone.Despite warnings Butcher spent years poring over colonial era maps and wooing rebel leaders before making his will and venturing to the Congo s eastern border He passed through once thriving cities of this country and saw the marks left behind by years of abuse and misrule Almost, 2,500 harrowing miles later, he reached the Atlantic Ocean, a thinner and a wiser man.Butcher s journey was a remarkable feat But the story of the Congo, vividly told in Blood River, is remarkable still From the Hardcover edition. New Read [ Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart ] By [ Tim Butcher ] For Kindle ePUB or eBook – kino-fada.fr Note Tim Butcher is officially a diamond geezer He s just joined Goodreads and read my review below and still sent me a thank you message today Rereading the below review, I think some authors could have taken umbrage because, well, it s actually quite cheeky The word pompous is used Some fun is poked Given some of the frankly unsavoury, if not downright ugly, author reviewer encounters there have been on this site, I therefore salute Tim A BOOK WHICH DESERVES TWO REVIEWS FIRST, THE Note Tim Butcher is officially a diamond geezer He s just joined Goodreads and read my review below and still ...I read this book on the airplane during my epic 42 hour flight from Papua New Guinea to South Carolina It kept my attention despite my incredible fatigue and anxiety But I had mixed feelings about it At first, it annoyed the hell out of me He kept going on and on about his fear and how scary the Congo is The Congo is scary However, the people in the Congo are amongst some of the most amazingly friendly, hospital, and cheerful helpful people in Africa While he gradually did give some I read this book on the airplane during my epic 42 hour flight from Papua New Guinea to South Carolina It kept my attention despite my incredible fatigue and anxiety But I had mixed feelings about it At first, it annoyed the hell out of me He kept going on and on about his fear and how scary the Congo is The Congo is scary However, the people in the Congo are amongst some of the most amazingly friendly, hospital, and cheerful helpful people in Africa While he gradually did give some shoutouts to all the Congolese who dragged his white ass through the DRC not unlike Stanley, his hero , it wore on me And it annoyed me because it kept pushing the DRC back into the heart of darkness trope that so many love to use But then again, I m not really surprised at his fear at the same time the DRC is one of the most frustratingly difficult environments to work in The portraits of the wiped out aid workers, the cynical UN employees, and the priests and nuns who keep the place funct...In 2004 Tim Butcher realised his dream of crossing the Congo from side to side It s an enormous country with hugely challenging terrain He was following in the footsteps of his hero, Henry Stanley he of Dr Livingstone I presume fame They shared a link Both Butcher and Stanley were journalists working for The Telegraph newspaper in London Tim Butche...This is a very engaging, but at the same time, disturbing story of this man s journey on the Congo River.Mr Butcher gives us many moving impressions of life in this part of the world and it is for the most part not very pretty He meets a wide array of characters, most of who have been deeply affected by the violence and poverty in the Congo There are many enduring images f...In 2004 journalist and historian Tim Butcher set out to retrace the 1874 77 route of legendary explorer Henry Morton Stanley of Dr Livingstone, I presume fame across the Congo to the mouth of the river on Africa s west coast A few years ago I read King Leopold s Ghost which spells out the horrifying years of King Leopold of Belgium s rape of the region The history presented in this book largely picks up where that one left off, with the 1908 Belgian annexation of the region which was In 2004 journalist and historian Tim Butcher set out to retrace the 1874 77 route of legendary explorer Henry Morton Stanley of Dr Livingstone, I presume fame across the Congo to the mouth of the river on Africa s west coast A few years ago I read King Leopold s Ghost which spells out the horrifying years of King Leopold of Belgium s rape of the region The history presented in this book largely picks up where that one left off, with the 1908 Belgian annexation of the region which was precipitated by humanitarian campaigns against the genocidal crimes of Leopold s personal agents However, this book does not move chronologically, but rather introduces topics as Butcher moves through the insanely dan...Inspired by Stanley, in 2004 journalist Tim Butcher decided to retrace his steps and follow the River Congo through the heart of Africa The resulting book is part travelogue, part history, and completely riveting Along the way he meets some fascinating people and has some quite scary adventures Mr Butcher is clearly a lot braver than I am He also writes about the Congo s history, and how its violent colonial past has impacted on its present state corruption, lawlessness, poverty, a Inspired by Stanley, in 2004 journalist Tim Butcher decided to retrace his steps and follow the River Congo through the heart of Africa The resulting ...I love travelogues And I am very interested in Africa and its history Therefore, I was very curious for this book which describes one of the most challenging travels in contemporary Africa Starting at Lake Tanganjika and ending at the Atlantic Ocean where the river Congo completes his journey of thousands of kilometers I was very impressed by the speed the author managed to finish his journey It took him about six weeks a real sprint compared to the man who went this way first, Henry I love travelogues And I am very interested in Africa and its history Therefore, I was very curious for this book which describes one of the most challenging travels in contemporary Africa Starting at Lake Tanganjika and ending at the Atlantic Ocean where the river Congo completes his journey of thousands of kilometers I was very impressed by the speed the author managed to finish his journey It took him abou...Tim Butcher is to be saluted for making and recording this extraordinary trip It was every bit as dangerous as Stanley s, if notHe faced the same diseases and supply problems as Stanley and his men While armed enemies haunted Stanley, Mr Butcher is vulnerable topowerful weapons and is traveling essentially alone.Descriptions of the former civilization are striking, especiall...Wow Gripping, intense, adventurous As someone who loves adventure and travel, I absolutely loved this book People not familiar with travel may think the author may have exaggerated with his story but all you have to do is look at Congo todayToday Congo is a lawless state The author for his own reasons travelled across the country which seems pretty insane given the situation in the country First overland to the Congo River then across it to its mouth at the AtlanticThe Congo, deep in Wow Gripping, intense, adventurous As someone who loves adventure and travel, I absolutely loved this book People not familiar with travel may think the author may have exaggerated with his story but all you have to do is look at Congo todayToday Congo is a lawless state The author for his own reasons travelled across the country which seems pretty insane given the situation in the country First overland to the Congo River then across it to its mouth at the AtlanticThe Congo, deep in central Africa Another country invaded by the elite King Leopold of Belguim in the late 1800s, only to be raided of its riches Gold, Cobalt and diamonds as well as for slaves A reoccurring theme given all the colonists who have for many years, many times invaded a country for wealth and greed Leaving...This book doesn t deserve less than five stars in my opinion because Mr.Butcher,while completing this dangerous assignment,never forgot he was a journalist too He made me see DRC through his eyes.His writing style is awesome and often when you feel its too monotonous, he pauses and writes about the days when Stanley was there in his place.The only thing I missed were the photographs of his adventure.It is sad to note that DRC is undeveloping.The author also asks some serious questions to the This book doesn t deserve less than five stars in my opinion because Mr.Butcher,while completing this dangerous assignment,never forgot he was a journalist too He made me see DRC through his eyes.His writing style is awesome and often when you feel its too monotonous, he pauses and writes about the days when Stanley was there in his place.The only thing I missed were the photographs of his adventure.It is sad to note that DRC is undeveloping.The a...

Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart
  • English
  • 25 March 2019
  • Paperback
  • 363 pages
  • 0099494280
  • Tim Butcher
  • Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart