From the author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia, this is travel writing with a dash of whimsy.
Sophy Roberts recreates the story of Frederick Carter, a charismatic Irish adventurer in Africa in the late nineteenth century, whose story has to date been consigned to the footnotes of Victorian history. An orphan who took to the sea, Carter found himself headhunted in 1879 to join King Leopold of Belgium's quest to plunder Africa's resources as part of his dream of taming Africa. But Carter's journey was soon beset by difficulties.
Following in his footsteps, Roberts pieces together Carter's biography, digging deep into his expedition records to reveal his extraordinary journey to lead a caravan of Indian elephants into the heart of the tormented, exploited and beautiful Congo.
With a rich cast of characters including slave traders, ivory dealers, busybody missionaries and African chiefs, Roberts brings the Congo and Carter's story to life and, through it, dares to confront our difficult imperial history.
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