Out of Darkness, Shining Light
A Novel
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4.1 • 7 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
“Engrossing, beautiful, and deeply imaginative” (Yaa Gyasi, author of Homegoing), this epic novel about the explorer David Livingstone and the extraordinary group of Africans who carry his body across impossible terrain “illuminates the agonies of colonialism and blind loyalty” (O, The Oprah Magazine).
“This is how we carried out of Africa the poor broken body of...David Livingstone, so that he could be borne across the sea and buried in his own land.”
So begins Petina Gappah’s “searing…poignant” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis) novel of exploration and adventure in 19th-century Africa—the captivating story of the African men and women who carried explorer and missionary Dr. Livingstone’s body, papers, and maps, fifteen hundred miles across the continent of Africa, so his remains could be returned home to England and his work preserved there. Narrated by Halima, the doctor’s sharp-tongued cook, and Jacob Wainwright, his rigidly pious secretary, this is a “powerful novel, beautifully told” (Jesmyn Ward, author of Sing, Unburied, Sing) that encompasses all of the hypocrisy of slavery and colonization—the hypocrisy of humanity—while celebrating resilience, loyalty, and love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gappah (The Book of Memory) uses two distinct voices to tell her version of the remarkable tale of the transportation of doctor and missionary David Livingstone's body from where he died in what is now modern-day Zambia in May of 1873 to Africa's eastern coast so that it could be returned to England. The tale of the 285-day journey is taken up by the sharp-tongued cook Halima on the night of Livingstone's death. She is quick to offer her opinions on other members of the group, such as the untrustworthy Chirango and simpering Ntao ka. Although she talks about the evils of African slavers and a massacre at Manyuema, in chapters that describe Livingstone's final months, hers is the more lighthearted portion of the narrative. When the self-righteous and self-important Jacob Wainwright takes over to tell the tale of the trek in his journal entries, his poor opinion of his companions just adds to the misery as they face privation in the wilderness, varied receptions in villages, and more death along the road. Readers who enjoy expedition travelogues or smartly drawn characters will appreciate Gappah's winning novel.
Customer Reviews
Don't ask me . . .
There should have been a glossary somewhere—too many unknown words. Because this is a historical novel who knows how much of it is true? Having read about King Leopold’s plundering of the Congo, I tend to distrust any white men's doings on the continent. I'm glad I read the book, though. It gave me a lot to think about. I read-up on Dr Livingstone a bit. Seems he pretty much missed the boat when it comes to saving souls and ending slave trade but his intentions were apparently good—he bit off way more than he could chew. It would seem he wasn’t as bright as he thought he was, quite literally. He did add quite a bit to the map of Africa. But I can’t help but wonder what Africa would be now if white men had left it alone . . .