Out of darkness, shining light : (Being a faithful account of the final years and earthly days of Doctor David Livingstone and his last journey from the interior to the coast of Africa, as narrated by his African companions, in three volumes) : a novel

The Resource Out of darkness, shining light : (Being a faithful account of the final years and earthly days of Doctor David Livingstone and his last journey from the interior to the coast of Africa, as narrated by his African companions, in three volumes) : a novel

Label

Title remainder

(Being a faithful account of the final years and earthly days of Doctor David Livingstone and his last journey from the interior to the coast of Africa, as narrated by his African companions, in three volumes) : a novel

Statement of responsibility

Petina Gappah

Language

eng

Summary

Set in Africa in 1873, this book fictionalises the events following the death of explorer Dr David Livingstone after his failed attempt to find the source of the Nile, inspired by Herodotus. The novel imagines the journey taken by a dozen or so of Livingstone's faithful servants and companions as they carry his corpse across Africa for nine months. His heart is buried deep in the African continent; his body is preserved in alcohol. The funeral caravan seeks the port of Zanzibar, so that his remains can be returned to Britain by sea for burial but their journey is fraught with incident and betrayal, peril and death. Narrated by Halima, Livingstone's chef and three of his servants and disciples Jacob, Chuma, and Susi, the novel tells a pre-colonial story that is largely idealistic and Christian from a post-colonial perspective. It is about slavery, loyalty, organised religion, and superstitious belief; women in a world dominated by men and their worldview; and the moment before the Europeans arrived in Africa and brutally carved up the continent. 150 years on, their story feels romantic, improbable, heroic and ultimately misguided; it has the power of myth, yet feels utterly contemporary

Biography type

contains biographical information

Cataloging source

SALS

Illustrations

maps

Index

no index present

Literary form

novels

Nature of contents

bibliography

Target audience

adult

Context

Context of Out of darkness, shining light : (Being a faithful account of the final years and earthly days of Doctor David Livingstone and his last journey from the interior to the coast of Africa, as narrated by his African companions, in three volumes) : a novel

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