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| Value for Money | 9/10  |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | 9/10 |
By petepsy
on 28th May 2008
| Format | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Value for money | 8/10 |
| Overall value | 8/10 |
 petepsy's recommendation | |
A real life contemporary account of the Congo as Tim Butcher travels in the footsteps of H. M. Stanley. This book is educative presenting historical facts and Butcher's everyday struggle traveling on the Congo.
Doesn't always hold interest. Try not to put down otherwise you may not bother to pick it up.
Tim Butcher is a Telegraph journalist, it has been his life dream to travel the Congo by the same route Stanley did when it was first mapped. The Congo is part of the Democratic Republic of Congo or as it was once called Zaire or the Belgian Congo. It is a country rich in mineral deposits and diamonds. It is wild, tropical and unfettered. Worse of all the DRC is a country at war with itself. But this we learn is probably a result of it's original colonial rule from Belgium.
Butcher tells a sad story of how a potentially very wealthy country has been raped of it's resources and is continually being pillaged even today. The corruption and blood shed happening he routes in it's violent past and the unsuccesful succession of real leaders. There are atrocities going on in DRC and the world allows them Butcher is explicit. Maybe it's because the world wants the natural resources the DRC offers. Whatever it is, this is an example of capitalism at it's worse going by Butcher's writing.
Traveling the Congo is no mean feat for Butcher, but only someone in his position can actually do it. He had built up contacts over years. Kept informed. Had read every book he could get his hands on. Spoken to people and listened to his loved ones when they feared for him. But he had to follow this through, driven by his own internal motivation. The day he left he said his preyers. Every little bit of help he shows was needed.
Along the journey Butcher is helped by all manner of persons, a pygmy activist, motorbike riding UN employed locals and various church clergy. He keeps his satelite phone hidden in a ruck sack. Travels light, and is aware how out of place a white man looks in the jungle. Fighting mosquitos and the culture of bribery he makes it through.
I believe it is important to read books you can learn something from. In this one i learnt how lucky I am to be living in the West and of how Africa needs help.
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