The Lunatic Express: An Entertainment in Imperialism. [Hardcover]

Charles, Miller (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company; Book Club (BCE/BOMC) edition (January 1971)
• ISBN-10: 0025849409
• ISBN-13: 978-0025849402
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #858,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars East African History brought to life, May 11, 2005

By 

R. L. B. Hay "Bob" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lunatic Express: An Entertainment in Imperialism. (Hardcover)

This is a book that I read ten years ago but has remained at the top of my list for Non Fiction. It covers the history of East Africa from the early slave trading of the Arabs at Mombasa and Zanzibar right up to the 1920's.

It's main story is the building of the Mombassa to Kenya railroad, which includes the story of the Man-eating Lions of Tsavo.

The whole book carries one along much as a passenger on the Railroad with a fast pace and more detail than the eye could take in with the feast of information that passes.

Thinking about it makes me want to take the train trip from Mombassa to Kenya, which still runs today.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lunatic Express, October 30, 2009

By 

H. Ingram (Cedar Park, Texas) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Lunatic Express: An Entertainment in Imperialism. (Hardcover)

An interesting overview of the whiteman's effect on Africa. The story is told in an easy style and reads like a novel.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Researched, June 29, 2011

By 

Mrs. Ia Platings (London) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lunatic Express: An Entertainment in Imperialism. (Hardcover)

This book is really well written and researched, but oh dear! like the Bible, it is so dense with history (and law) it is hard to find something when you want to go back and check it. The poetic chapter titles do not help either. Flute Out of Tune, a reference to a saying about the slavers of Zanzibar is the title of Part 1 of the book. This deals with the history of East Africa, from pre-history to WW1. This history is to my mind really important, dealing as it does with the British effort to enforce the anti-slavery treaties with the Zanzibari Arabs - something quite overlooked (and so forgotten) in history today. Part 1 is really a book in itself, as is Part 2, The Lunatic Express. Charles coyly says the book is not a 'history' but if it is not that, at around 600 pages of concentrated font it is certainly a starter - the Chapter notes and Bibliography listed at the end of the book look to be the reading list for a Degree, if not a Doctorate in the Pre and Early Colonial History of East Africa.