Kalashnikovs and Zombie Cucumbers: Travels in Mozambique [Hardcover]

Nicholas J. Middleton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 1994

Middleton made two trips to Mozambique in 1992, one before and one after the peace accord was signed to end a savage civil war. Despite its recent history, he found a resilient country full of integrity and good nature, and saw the contradictions of the modern aid business, which is taking over the legacy of 500 years of Portuguese rule in a country which, until independence, was known only for for its prawns and prostitutes. This travel book illuminates a little-understood part of southern Africa, a country where the culture of the West meets a world of older beliefs, still full of magic and ghosts.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nick Middleton was born in London. As a geographer he has travelled to more than 50 countries and teaches part-time at Oxford University. As a travel writer he has been accused of drug smuggling and spying but has never spent a night in jail. He has been fined for dropping a match in China, mugged in Moscow, conned in Casablanca and kidnapped in Outer Mongolia, but hasn't tired of travelling yet. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Sinclair-Stevenson Ltd (November 14, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856193403
• ISBN-13: 978-1856193405
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,742,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Travel > Africa > Mozambique

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ok at best, June 1, 2009

By 

Aaron K. Adkins (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kalashnikovs and Zombie Cucumbers: Travels in Mozambique (Hardcover)

I am planning a trip to Mozambique this fall. I generally enjoy the travel book genre. And as there are not a lot of books about Mozambique and this one has a catchy title, I checked it out from my local library. I read it, and I am glad that I read it. But I found the book ok at best.

These are my criticisms. First, the events of the book took place in 1992. This is a long time ago and is now outdated. I keep wondering how Moz has changed. Second, the author's travels around Moz seem aimless. There seems to be little overriding objective or mission. Third, the author's recounts of history are amateurish at times. For example, at one point, he refers to "elephant murderers," a reference to people that profited in the 18th century from the ivory trade. He is obviously judging these people by today's standards, an act of folly in my view. To state the obvious, today's moral standards are much different than those in the past, and very few historical figures would hold up to today's standards. To refer to these people in this manner, is, as I said, amateurish, at best.

So, if you really like the travel book genre and plan to go to Moz, this book is ok, especially if you read it with knowledge of the above limitations.