Livingstone's Tribe: A Journey from Zanzibar to the Cape [Paperback]

Stephen Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

An extraordinary, passionate and personal journey into Africa's past. Meshing together Africa's colonial history and the personalities of that time with his own memories of the turbulent twentieth century and its characters, Stephen Taylor will travel from Lake Victoria to the Cape of Good Hope - from the place that represents the peak of colonial exploration in Africa to the first settling place of his own family. His description and re-evaluation of the colonial period shows it in all its drama, glamour and disreputableness. His journey will be a quest for understanding: of the colonial impulse, of his own curious ambivalence towards the great continent in which he grew up, and of the southern African countries' - in particular South Africa's - future. It is a wonderfully evocative, lyrical description of some of the most dramatic lands in the world - thoughtful, historical, philosophical travel writing of the best kind.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Writer and journalist Taylor, author of two other works with African themes, Shaka's Children and The Mighty Nimrod, provides here snippets of enthralling individual tales complemented with a thoughtful commentary. Recounting his travels from Lake Victoria to the Cape of Good Hope, Taylor explores what the future holds for the white citizens of the black continent in which he was raised. Although skilled at reporting and storytelling, Taylor is less successful as a social and political thinker. His subjects, an eclectic mix, are not missionaries or explorers and may even lack Livingstone's dignity and vision. That they are white and living in sub-Saharan Africa is all that makes them members of "Livingstone's tribe." The reader is therefore tempted to conclude that this unimpressive association is a mere outcome of a nostalgic indulgence. Yet Taylor deserves credit for openly addressing the precarious fate of many whites who still call post-independence Africa home. This blend of social history and travelog may be of interest to travel enthusiasts but is more suitable for social science collections. Edward K. Owusu-Ansah, Murray State Univ. Lib., KY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Taylor sounds a note of shrewd nostalgia for the countries where he once lived and delivers some exceptionally fine travel reportage while he's at it." -- The New York Times Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 000655069X
• ISBN-13: 978-0006550693
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,116,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Review by An African History Major, June 1, 2007

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Olde American (Richmond, Virginia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Livingstone's Tribe: A Journey from Zanzibar to the Cape (Paperback)

This book seemed a little pessimistic about the whites living in Zimbabwe and Kenya, however that is understandable given that he was there right before the violent seizure of white land in Zimbabwe and under the rather oppressive rule of President Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya, and so things would have looked a bit bleak at that time. He should go back and write one about the same communities now, although the going to Zimbabwe would be difficult. This book was a very fun read, and I would guess that it will be a primary document for the historians and sociologists of future generations. It was a very compelling read.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superbly written armchair travel guide, August 10, 2001

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Livingstone's Tribe: A Journey from Zanzibar to the Cape (Paperback)

Livingston's Tribe is a superbly written, armchair travel guide of a journey from Zanzibar to the Cape recounts the experiences of an anti-apartheid liberal who flees the old South Africa and welcomes independence for Zimbabwe. His experiences and encounters with tribes and individuals makes for an involving and revealing travel diary which any with an affection for Africa will relish.