Harare Review of Books

303 pages.

First published in 2019.

Finished reading on 30 Oct 2019.

Genre: Historical fiction.

“This is how we carried out of Africa the poor broken body of Bwana Daudi, the Doctor, David Livingstone, so that he could be borne across the sea and buried in his own land.” So begins Petina Gappah’s powerful novel of exploration and adventure in nineteenth-century Africa—the captivating story of the loyal men and women who carried explorer and missionary Dr. Livingstone’s body, his papers and maps, fifteen hundred miles across the continent of Africa, so his remains could be returned home to England and his work preserved there. Narrated by Halima, the doctor’s sharp-tongued cook, and Jacob Wainwright, a rigidly pious freed slave, this is a story that encompasses all of the hypocrisy of slavery and colonization—the hypocrisy at the core of the human heart—while celebrating resilience, loyalty, and love.

I found this an easy and entertaining read. The narrators (characters) were very well drawn, and amusing, too–sticky enough that I forgot that these were real people, and that the author filled in (so well!) things that may not have happened.

An interesting aside: I could not avoid hearing her “voice” in this book. She is a very good writer.

My favourite character was Jacob Wainwright, a bit of a weirdo:

Rated: 8/10. A very solid read.

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Welcome news from Ms. Gappah, over on Twitter:

You know how I feel about the non-availability in Zimbabwe of books written by Zimbabweans–in short, 🥺💔–so, this is excellent and welcome news!