Ana
asked
Tim Butcher:
Hi Tim, Just loved your book on Congo. Amazing reading. As well as The Trigger. Considering order the Chase the Devil now. Do you have other recommendations on readings about Africa?
Tim Butcher
Thanks for the question, Ana,
There are a wealth of books on Africa that I have enjoyed and learned from. Here are three favourites:
History – King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochshcild, a history book that regularly blurs the border with dramatic fiction
Fiction – An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah, short stories so perfect as whole they capture post-colonial Africa’s double-edged muddle of hope and despair
Memoir – Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, a dynastic novel but written with so much authority drawn from the author’s own life in/out of Ethiopia.
There are a wealth of books on Africa that I have enjoyed and learned from. Here are three favourites:
History – King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochshcild, a history book that regularly blurs the border with dramatic fiction
Fiction – An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah, short stories so perfect as whole they capture post-colonial Africa’s double-edged muddle of hope and despair
Memoir – Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, a dynastic novel but written with so much authority drawn from the author’s own life in/out of Ethiopia.
More Answered Questions
Dale Walker
asked
Tim Butcher:
Hi Tim, I lived in Cape Town for 10 years. I really enjoyed my time there. Do you live in Cape Town because you fell in love with Africa from your travels and writing? Would you ever go back to the UK. Would you recommend your children live there or would you want them to go back to the UK due to all the political unrest?
Brad Patton
asked
Tim Butcher:
Where can I get a kindle of Chasing the Devil? Have searched high and low. Assume there is some contractual problems with them. Greene's book on Liberia / Sierra Leone is frankly terrible-- I stopped reading it when he adds a laundry list from social columns in a local paper. It was God awful for numerous reasons...he must have been learning to write as I like some of the later works. Read your Sarajevo book ..
Chris Lindley
asked
Tim Butcher:
Hi Tim. Everything book related seems to be owned by amazon today, whether new or secondhand or community focussed like this very website. And it comes as no surprise that they wield their power aggressively and unfairly for everyone except the consumer. Do you know where consumers should buy their books in order to maximise the cut that the author will actually receive? Thanks and I trust you're all well.
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