Travels in West Africa

by Kingsley, Mary H.
5 out of 5 Customer Rating
ISBN: 9780486424903
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Used - Trade Paperback - 9780486424903

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Overview

Upon her sudden freedom from family obligations, a sheltered Victorian spinster traded her stifling middle-class existence for an incredible expedition in the Congo. Mary Kingsley traversed uncharted regions of West Africa alone, on foot, collecting specimens of local fauna and trading with natives--a remarkable feat in any era, but particularly for a woman of the 1890s. After hacking her way through jungles, being fired upon by hostile tribesmen and attacked by wild animals, Kingsley emerged with no complaint more serious than a pair of tired feet. She undertook her exploits in the traditional garb of her era but lived as a native, and she found herself drawn into the life and problems of the region: its diversity of customs and beliefs; its geography and natural history; its trade network; the impact of missionaries; and many other issues of the day. Her account of her experiences, suffused with an infectious good humor, was published to immediate success in 1897 and remains a compelling tale of adventure.
  • Format: TradePaperback
  • Author: Kingsley, Mary H.
  • ISBN: 9780486424903
  • Condition: Used
  • Dimensions: 8.40 x 1.55
  • Number Of Pages: 800
  • Publication Year: 2003
Language: English

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