| Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart | 
 enlarge | Author: Tim Butcher
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £1.15
You Save: £6.84 (86%)
New (42) from £1.44
Avg. Customer Rating:  61 reviews
Sales Rank: 136
Media: Paperback
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 4.9 x 1
ISBN: 0099494280
EAN: 9780099494287
ASIN: 0099494280
Publication Date: January 3, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: NEW BOOK MINOR IMPERFECTION TO COVER ie creased DISPATCHED FROM UK WAREHOUSE
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| Customer Reviews:
 Only for the brave... July 3, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
A brilliant book mixing adventure travel with history, geography and anthropology. The author describes his brutal journey across the enormous expanse of land that is the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tracking Stanley's exploratory expedition, the book is shocking and horrifying in what it reveals about this destitute country. It is a great read that's filled with humour and compassion for the Congolese people. As someone about to travel to the DRC, this was an insightful introduction to an amazing country - all of its wonders and dangers. Now that I have safely returned from the Congo I have recommended this to all my family and friends.
Incredible July 1, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
From the moment I opened this book I couldn't put it down. It is a chilling account of Congo in decay, and about how the infrastructutre of civilisation has collapsed, making it a far more dangerous place today than it was decades ago. I thoroughly recommend it.
a compelling journey June 28, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
An account of the extraordinary journey made by journalist Tim Butcher, retracing the footsteps of H.M. Stanley ,exploring the Congo River. The journey was remarkable as the Congo has suffered from decades of corruption and explotiation and has been ravaged by civil war. The success of Butcher's journey depends on the kindness of aid agencies and charity workers. At times he is struck by the decay and neglect he discovers and paints a depressing picture of what he describes as 'Africa's Broken Heart'. What distinguishes this account from other travel writing is the challenge of the journey. Butcher describes his journey as' ordeal travel' and develops detailed accounts of his experiences. It is difficult not to admire the courage of the writer or the integrity of his writing.
History and travel June 13, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
This book is not to be picked up if you are looking for a travel book. Instead it is a fascinating documentary on the politics, history and culture of the people that he passes on his journey, with a little about the physical journey. He makes frequent comparisons with previous explorers, especially Stanley. The book is very interesting and he draws astonishing anthropological observations. I couldn't put it down, but it was very different from what I was expecting when I picked it up!
Blood River June 11, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
In Blood River, Tim Butcher gives an engrossing account of his treacherous trip across the Congo following in the footsteps of Stanley who was also the Daily Telegraph's foreign correspondent. Against all advice, Butcher crosses the Congo with the support of a handful of individuals and a few aid agencies that operate in the country. As the Congo's road, rail and riverboat system has been destroyed, large parts of the journey are undertaken on the back of a motorcycle and Butcher gives vivid accounts of the people he meets and the places he stops at on the way. This book had me hooked from the start. It is a gripping read of the horror of the post-colonial collapse in one part of Africa and there are parallels with Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and "Apocalypse Now", the movie by Francis Coppola. Unlike Conrad and Coppola's characters, however, Butcher does not become savage and he returns to civilisation to reflect on the challenges Africa faces.
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