Travels into the Interior of Africa [Paperback]

Mungo Park (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2004

A combination of two journeys, Scotsman Mungo Park's story of his first trip in 1795 as a 24-year old, and again in 1805, provided Europeans with their first reliable description of the interior of the continent. The first trip was full of an endearing vulnerability and the heroic generosity of a fit young man, while the second was one of Conradian tragedy, murder, and mayhem. Despite starvation, imprisonment, and frequent illness, he managed to keep a record. Though he failed in the object of his mission-to chart the course of the Niger River-he did succeed in exploring West Africa and opening in trade routes. His first-hand experiences of tribal justice, gold mining, and the slave trade are recorded, as well as his own understated heroism, a story of courage, open-hearted friendship, and betrayal. His vivid record of his travels brought a new image of Africa to the European public, though the continent claimed him for itself in death. Travels is still considered the most readable of all the classics of African exploration.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Eland Books; 2 edition (March 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0907871046
• ISBN-13: 978-0907871040
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #977,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Travel > Africa > Niger & Nigeria

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatist books on the exploration of Africa, May 8, 2010

By 

Paul I. Dukel Jr. (San Jose, Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Travels into the Interior of Africa (Paperback)

Personally, I don't like Amazon's 5 star rating system, in my opinion too many people rate books 5 star, which in my mind would be a book 100% perfect in every category. To me this is practically unattainable. So I give this book a 5 star rating with reservations, I would prefer a 4 3/4 rating if this were possible. There should be a 7 star rating system, with 7 stars being practically unattainable.
Having said this, this is the greatest work of travel and exploration I have ever read. And I have read the greatest, all the African greats; Burton, Baker, Stanley, Livingston, Mary Kingsley & etc., etc. Also the North American giants; Lewis & Clark, Champlain, La Salle, Jedediah Smith and the rest; and most of the South Americans of fame, Spruce, Bates, Humbolt, Dr. Richard Schultes et.al. And last but not least the the Asian explorers, such as Doughty, Thessiger, Hedin and many more. I say this so you know where I'm coming from. But "Travels into the Interior of Africa" by Mungo Park is my favorite. Read it and you may agree with me, I don't know why this book is so ignored, especially after reading so many rave reviews on Amazon on Mary Kingsley's, "Travels in West Africa" {but she deserves it}.There are heart touching as well as humorous scenes in this book especially in his encounters with African women. Park's courage, perseverance, humility, humanity and his empathy for the African peoples he encounters as well as his informative account of the exotic makes this book a great read. The "good, the bad, and the ugly" are all here, and it is written in a straightforward and manly style.To me he was truly one of the greatest explorers of all times!
The "Eland" edition I have is of fairly good quality, but overpriced.