Customer Reviews

African Ark: People and Ancient Cultures of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa

5 star:		(16)
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After seeing this book in the hands of friends, I am glad to finally have it in my special book collections. In this book photographers Beckwith and Fisher have truely captured the fierce, exotic, and natural beauty of the people of Ethiopia and the surrounding area. Indeed, Hancock covers the history of this mystic land dating back to early pre-christian era. Anyone with a sincere interest to learn the people and cultures of Ethiopia should have this amazing book in their possession!

A friend lent me this book some years ago and I immediately bought a copy. It is not a cheap book, but if I had a dollar for every time a visitor got lost in it, it would have been paid for many times over.

A land now wracked by famine and war, the region of Ethiopia and the surrounding countries which make up the Horn of Africa, have a rich and diverse cultural history. The coastal areas have been in close contact with the outside world for centuries, linked by trade with Arabia, China and India. Ethiopia itself is situated in more remote highlands and has enjoyed protection from foreign influences, for an even longer time. The are archaic forms of Christianity and Judaism, pastoralist groups, hunter-gatherers and farmers and they have lived undisturbed for hundreds of years. Until the twentieth century, Ethiopia was the only African country to have successfully avoided Western imperialism.

And here is a book of superb photographs of the land and its different peoples by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher. The text by Graham Hancock is unusually helpful giving the historical background so necessary to take in these startling photos. A wonderful book, beautifully designed, published by Abrams, it is well worth its published price of $75.00 to anyone interested in Africa.

I had this book for a long time and everybody who looks at it cant let go.Great pictures.As an Ethiopian it makes me feel great to show people my country and my history. Elsabeth

As a repeat visitor to beautiful Ethiopia, and a pretty darn good photographer, the last thing I want my friends to do is to pick up this book before they see MY pictures. My best ones are drab next to this fabulous work of Fisher and Beckwith. So many books on Ethiopia cover either just the north, with it's religious architecture and history, or just the south with its beautiful tribal people only recently touched by the encroachment of modernity. But this book covers it all, and stunningly so. If you can afford only one book of glorious photography on tribal Africa, make it this one. There is a reason for the consistent 5-star ratings.

(Later note: two newer books by different authors/photographers focus just on the tribal areas of the Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia. If that's your interest, then also check out Gianni Giansanti's "Vanishing Africa" and Hans Silvester's "Ethiopia - Peoples of the Omo Valley.")

This work of art in nothing less than excellent!!

If you're considering a trip to the Motherland, definitely buy this book! The pictoral essay translates a million cultural norms and customs for the Westerner/Asian. These images are "provocatively considerate" of the ancient peoples of Eastern Africa, which is unusual. These images also transport you back to a time when (in my opinion) Mankind lived simpler, easier lives.

I really enjoyed the images of the Christian influences including the rock churches of Ethiopia.

If you are interested in Ethiopia, this book provides a pictured guide to the country, its history and its sites. The photography is amazing.

My wife and I ordered this book after adopting a child from Ethiopia. We have learned a lot from it - even our Ethiopian friends cannot let go of it once they started reading it.

Great Find!

I was thrilled when I found this book on line.I have been looking for this table book for a few years.

The seller described the book's condition to a tee! It arrived in excellent shape, and I am extremely happy.

I would do business with this seller in the future.
Thanks again!

[ASIN:0810919028 African Ark: People and Ancient Cultures of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa]]