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Travels in West Africa
by Mary H. Kingsley
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- used - very good/none
- Seller
-
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
This book has some minor wear to covers, some markings first inner pages by previous owner. Spine intact, some wear. Very good shape considering its age. "Mary Kingsley's "Travels in West Africa" has become a classic, and deservedly so. Her story is remarkable. In the 1890s, unmarried and no longer having to care for her parents, Kingsley decides she should travel in "the tropics" and sets off for "West Africa" (i.e., the West coast of Central Africa). She travels as a scientist, collecting fish specimens, and finances her travels by trading along the way--but mostly she travels for the love of adventure and to satisfy an appetite for the unknown. "Travels in West Africa" is a treasure trove of information about Atlantic-coast Central Africa in the late 1800s. The last third of "Travels in West Africa" consists of three long chapters on fetish customs. Although she lacks a systematic view of the role of fetishes and other spiritual tokens in the cultures she met, her depiction of their impact on everyday life and on funeral customs is enlightening. She delves into the afterlife beliefs of the peoples she encountered; in many of these cultures today, the beliefs she relates are still expressed in a form of syncretistic Christianity. But beyond its historic and sociological value, the book is just wonderful. Mary Kingsley's descriptions are vivid, her insights interesting, and her understated humor is a joy. Anyone with a love of exploration and a good story would enjoy "Travels in West Africa." Mary Kingsley's account of her experiences, suffused with an infectious good humor, was published to immediate success in 1897 and remains a compelling tale of adventure." Good Reads "Mary Henrietta Kingsley (13 October 1862 – 3 June 1900) was an English ethnographer, writer and explorer who made numerous travels through West Africa and wrote several books on her experiences there. Historians have credited Kingsley's work with helping to shape Western perceptions of the culture of Africa and colonialism" Wikipedia
Synopsis
What this book wants is not a simple Preface but an apology, and a very brilliant and convincing one at that. Recognising this fully, and feeling quite incompetent to write such a masterpiece, I have asked several literary friends to write one for me, but they have kindly but firmly declined, stating that it is impossible satisfactorily to apologise for my liberties with Lindley Murray and the Queen's English.
Reviews
On Feb 7 2011, Honeykitten said:
I loved this book. It is available at my local library but I want my own copy because I am sure I will read it again. Before I read this I read A Voyager Out which was very helpful. Her writing style is similar to conversation she writes as a Victorian Cockney would talk using colloquialisms. Plus she was a very bold woman understanding her upbringing made reading her book more understandable. Very glad to have met Mary Kingsley through these two books.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Ohkwaho Books and Fine Art
(CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 707.2023
- Title
- Travels in West Africa
- Author
- Mary H. Kingsley
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- used - very good
- Jacket Condition
- none
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Date Published
- 1889
- Pages
- 743
- Size
- 23 cm x 15 cm
- Weight
- 4.41 lbs
- Keywords
- Non-Fiction, Africa, Travel, History
Terms of Sale
Ohkwaho Books and Fine Art
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Ohkwaho Books and Fine Art
Biblio member since 2023
Oakville, Ontario
About Ohkwaho Books and Fine Art
Welcome to Ohkwaho Books and Fine Art. We are a small family-run, independent book-seller looking to share our passion for the written word with the world. We specialize in historical fiction, non-fiction and children's fiction. Above all we value integrity and transparency and are looking for ways to connect with other bibliophiles. Our resident artist is a proudly Metis youth, working to regain connection with his Metis heritage, and much of his passion for social justice and reconciliation may be envisioned within his art. We offer a wide variety of books for sale, both gently used and new. We are also very thrilled to announce availability of a limited number of prints and original artwork by Baz. In addition, we are always happy to connect with you to discuss commissions and other types of requests. Please reach out and let us know how best we can work with you! We look forward to hearing from you.
Glossary
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- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
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