Customer Reviews

Through the Dark Continent:Volume 1

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The natives of Africa who worked with Stanley called him Bulla Marari - "The Rock Breaker", and with good reason. It is really very hard to appreciate Stanley's accomplishments from today's perspective. In 1874, Stanley left Zanzibar. By 1877, he had crossed the continent and reached the Atlantic Ocean. There is nothing modern man can do that would equal this accomplishment. Today's daring adventurers climb rocks or mountains or go bungee jumping. Stanley was traveling into the unknown. Not even space exploration today holds the quality of the unknown, as did Africa in Stanley's time. The hardship he faced during this time was unbelievable by today's standards. His circumnavigation of Lake Victoria alone contained a constant stream of near death scrapes that not only required staggering amounts of physical courage, but a mental toughness as well. A lot of the reviews I have read on this work focus on Stanley's political incorrectness. I urge a closer reading of the work. Stanley was actually extremely open minded and, more than anything, fair in his views and certainly very progressive. When discussing the character of the African natives, Stanley was of the opinion that "they are, in short, equal to any other race or colour on the face of the globe, in all the attributes of manhood." Stanley was an insightful enough observer to draw comparisons between African legends and Christian beliefs, giving each equal respect and recognizing their similarities. Stanley even at one point performs the ceremony of blood-brotherhood with the famous chief Mirambo, which involved the sharing of blood by mutual cuts on the leg. I would suggest that Stanley was not only a progressive during his own time, but for any time. He judged men simply by deeds, nothing more or less. If only Stanley recieved the same standard of judgement. In Stanley's time, so much was unknown, and the world seemed so large and rich. In our time, so much more is known, and yet our world has become so narrow, specialized and petty. There can never be another man like Stanley. We are all far more interested in watching a teenager eat a plate of worms on "Fear Factor."

This is an amazing book, just a great read and some of the most outrageous adventure in modern times. There is nothing to cause one to suspect this is anything but the unvarnished truth, and as such, it beats fiction all hollow. This was when men were truly men (see also the outstanding parallel work by John Speke, whose adventures preceded Stanley's and seem to amply confirm the narrative in all particulars). Stanley was a professional writer and writes like one, ever so much better than one expects from such a tough guy. As an added bonus of enormous interest, we are treated to an amazing insight into the personalitiy of the equatorial African with whom we now live in much the same tenuous relationships as did the author. I doubt this book is widely read anymore, and what a pity. Great stuff.

This book, along with volume 2, is without a doubt, the best book I have ever read. It is full of extremely descriptive language, allowing the reader to experience the wonder and the dangers Stanley and his expedition encountered. It has had the most lingering effect any book has ever left on me. This is about an unbelievably extrordinary man, who sacrifices so much to complete the journey his friend , Dr. Livingstone, began years before. This set of books shows us a time when people had strength, courage, virtue - all the things that seem to be so hard to find today. Stanley is truly an example to remember, and these books allow us to do that.

The eloquence of Stanley's writing is a pleasure. His assessment and interest towards the African is compassionate. His record of the ancestral history of the Uganda region is undoutably the first written account. A truly 'good read' offering much enlightenment of the Lake Victoria area and the conditions of exploration in 1875.

Startling book that should be read by everyone interested in the history of Central Africa. Probably, the greatest adventure book ever written.

Interesting that Stanley, back in 1875, was aware that the Muslims from Arabia were "fanatical" as compared to other Muslims. To Arabian Muslims, everyone who didn't believe in the Koran was an infidel and should be killed.

Have only read a little more than half the book and can hardly put it down. The previous two posts are way off base. Probably written by Muslims or those of African decent who have little pride in their history.

Yes, this book is full of lies and it's the least PC thing I've ever read, and for that it is worthy of interest. The voice is the thing here, and it really adds a dimension of understanding how the Europeans could have been so stupid and so entrepreneurial at the same time.

Of note: It is lacking in the delicious details that make up a good adventure read, a-la Cherry Gerards's "Worst Journey in the World." After reading this book, I know little about the lower classes on the expedition, nor have I learned anything about the how's and what's of the everyday life of the explorer. But what I did get was invaluable insight into the mind of a quite exceptional (American) imperialist of the time, unfiltered through the lenses of modern sensibilities or morals. Yes, Stanley was a colossal a-hole, but just because he is so objectionable doesn't make his accomplishments any less extraordinary or this book any less valuable.

As noted already by another reviewer, if you do read this book, please read "King Leopold's Ghost" by Hochschild. The latter is a wonderfully written account of a nightmare society that was built with Stanley's willing cooperation (Stanleyville was named after him). Moreover Hochschild's account is the result of years of research in libraries to reconstruct a history that King Leopold, Stanley's backer, sought hard to obliterate. When you read headlines today about atrocities in the Congo today, be aware that Stanley is very directly responsible for what has happened. To give you an insight into the man, his contemporaries report that he enjoyed shooting Africans for sport. Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is based on his own first-hand experiences in the Congolese slave society that Stanley helped to build. Too many good people sacrificed lives and careers to bring this to light, for people to now ignore the truth.

Lies, Lies, Lies.....if you wanna know what i am talking about read (King Leopold's Ghost by Hochschild)