Overland through Egypt and Sudan, by camel into Ethiopia (in the last days of Haile Selassie) and Kenya to Tanganyika. In 1971, Tucker was invited by a Greek contemporary at Oxford to join him in Tanganyika. Marios Ghikas owned so much land there that when he went for a walk in his garden he effectively went on safari. 'I'm about to be Africanized,' he tells Tucker. 'And I was saving the last banana for you. Come and help me spend this unremittable fortune.' The Greeks, Marios had told him, were important in the history of Europe's engagement with Africa. Herodotus had written the first geography, social anthropology and history of Egypt in the 5th century BC and for nearly 1000 years Alexandria, founded by Greeks had been the most important city in Africa. But could Tucker afford to interrupt his work to take up Ghikas' invitation? Would Carole, his would-be wife wait for him? All the demoralizing beauty and sunlight of an African adventure beckoned. Carole wrote to an elder of her tribe. 'Go before it vanishes,' he replied. Variously described as brave, lunatic, old-fashioned, heroic, Tucker has been recognized as an outstanding and distinguished new writer.
His new book promises to be as compelling, original and enlightening as his first. Footnotes: In 1972 Shelby and Carole were married in Zanzibar in a cathedral built in 1876 on the site of the old slave market to commemorate the end of the slave trade. Last year the Republic of Tanzania asked Marios to take back his farm. History has come full circle.
Overland through Egypt and Sudan, by camel into Ethiopia (in the last days of Haile Selassie) and Kenya to Tanganyika. In 1971, Tucker was invited by a Greek contemporary at Oxford to join him in Tanganyika. Marios Ghikas owned so much land there that when he went for a walk in his garden he effectively went on safari. 'I'm about to be Africanized,' he tells Tucker. 'And I was saving the last banana for you. Come and help me spend this unremittable fortune.' The Greeks, Marios had told him, were important in the history of Europe's engagement with Africa. Herodotus had written the first geography, social anthropology and history of Egypt in the 5th century BC and for nearly 1000 years Alexandria, founded by Greeks had been the most important city in Africa. But could Tucker afford to interrupt his work to take up Ghikas' invitation? Would Carole, his would-be wife wait for him? All the demoralizing beauty and sunlight of an African adventure beckoned. Carole wrote to an elder of her tribe. 'Go before it vanishes,' he replied. Variously described as brave, lunatic, old-fashioned, heroic, Tucker has been recognized as an outstanding and distinguished new writer.
His new book promises to be as compelling, original and enlightening as his first. Footnotes: In 1972 Shelby and Carole were married in Zanzibar in a cathedral built in 1876 on the site of the old slave market to commemorate the end of the slave trade. Last year the Republic of Tanzania asked Marios to take back his farm. History has come full circle.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
Praise for Among Insurgents: 'Every few years there comes along a first book by an unknown author that makes you want to stand up and applaud. This is such a book. This is a story of real, risk-taking, old-fashioned travel, not pre-paid by a publisher or faked by a television company. Beautifully written and illustrated with colour photos and maps, it deserves to become a classic.' Maggie Gee, Daily Telegraph 'Tucker's adventure is a throwback to the heroic age of travel...endlessley fascinating and well informed on this little known region of Asia...outstandingly well written in the insouciant Peter Fleming tradition...the most unusual and distinguished travel book I have read for years.' Robert Carver, Times Literary Supplement 'I read it with growing amazement. What a journey and what a lot of research since! Very impressive! Robin Hanbury-Tenison
Praise for Among Insurgents: 'Every few years there comes along a first book by an unknown author that makes you want to stand up and applaud. This is such a book. This is a story of real, risk-taking, old-fashioned travel, not pre-paid by a publisher or faked by a television company. Beautifully written and illustrated with colour photos and maps, it deserves to become a classic.' Maggie Gee, Daily Telegraph 'Tucker's adventure is a throwback to the heroic age of travel...endlessley fascinating and well informed on this little known region of Asia...outstandingly well written in the insouciant Peter Fleming tradition...the most unusual and distinguished travel book I have read for years.' Robert Carver, Times Literary Supplement 'I read it with growing amazement. What a journey and what a lot of research since! Very impressive! Robin Hanbury-Tenison
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Maße
Höhe: 240 mm
Breite: 159 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-00-713176-1 (9780007131761)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Shelby Tucker is an American who read law at Oxford and practised for many years. He has addressed the US National Security Council on Burma and lectured on the Kachins and the Burmese Civil War at the School of Oriental and African Studies, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and elsewhere. He has also acted as General Counsel for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.
Shelby Tucker is an American who read law at Oxford and practised for many years. He has addressed the US National Security Council on Burma and lectured on the Kachins and the Burmese Civil War at the School of Oriental and African Studies, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and elsewhere. He has also acted as General Counsel for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.
