BLOOD RIVER: THE TERRIFYING JOURNEY THROUGH THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRY

Published to rave reviews in the United Kingdom & named a Richard & Judy Book Club selection—the only work of nonfiction on the 2008 list— Blood River is the harrowing & audacious story of Tim Butcher’s journey in the Congo & his retracing of renowned explorer H. M. Stanley’s famous 1874 expedition in which he mapped the Congo River.

When Daily Telegraph correspondent Tim Butcher was sent to Africa in 2000 he quickly became obsessed with the legendary Congo River & the idea of recreating Stanley’s legendary journey along the three-thousand-mile waterway. Despite warnings that his plan was suicidal, Butcher set out for the Congo’s eastern border with just a rucksack & a few thousand dollars hidden in his boots. Making his way in an assortment of vehicles, including a motorbike & a dugout canoe, helped along by a cast of characters from UN aid workers to a pygmyrights advocate, he followed in the footsteps of the great Victorian adventurers.

An utterly absorbing narrative that chronicles Tim Butcher’s forty-four-day journey along the Congo River, Blood River is an unforgettable story of exploration & survival.

WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING:
“Quite superb . . . a masterpiece.”—John le Carré

“A remarkable, fascinating book by a courageous & perceptive writer. One of the most exciting books to emerge from Africa in recent years.” —Alexander McCall Smith

“This is a terrific book, an adventure story about a journey of great bravery in one of the world’s most dangerous places.” —Fergal Keane, author of Season of Blood

“An intrepid adventure. In making & describing this journey, Tim Butcher has followed in the footsteps of Stanley & Conrad. It takes a lot of guts to yomp through the Congo & he obviously has plenty of those. But it is the wit & passion of the writing that keeps you engrossed.” —Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland

“Tim Butcher deserves a medal for this crazy feat. I marvel at his courage & his empathy with the unfortunate Congolese when he reenacted Stanley’s appalling journey across the continent.” —Thomas Pakenham, author of The Scramble For Africa

“Tim Butcher has written a wonderful adventure story about one of the least known regions of modern Africa—because it is among the most dangerous. Blood River represents a remarkable marriage of travelogue & history, which deserves to make Tim Butcher a star for his prose, as well as his courage.” —Max Hastings, author of Armageddon: The Battle For Germany

ISBN: 0-8021-4433-0
Publisher: INGRAM PUBLISHING SERVICES
Publish Date: 08-30-2009