Books set in Africa?

58 replies

gastrognome · 15/04/2011 12:59

Hello,

Can anybody recommend any good books set in Africa? Could be fiction, travel writing or biographical/memoir, set anywhere on the continent.

Have read various Alexander McCall Smith, Wilbur Smith (but getting a bit tired of the whole "great white hunter" thing), JM Coetzee, Paul Theroux (Dark Star Safari)...

I particularly like books with a wildlife theme. Read and enjoyed a book a few years ago about a couple setting up a wildlife reserve in Zambia, but can't remember who it was by.

TIA for any and all recommendations!

OP posts:

deepdarkwood · 15/04/2011 13:44

Chinua Achebe - Things Fall Apart? Although not really in the wildlife mode en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinua_Achebe

Agree that Poisonwood Bible is amazing.

fivegomadinthelambingshed · 15/04/2011 13:43

White Mischief, all about the Happy Valley in Kenya in 1940's.
The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
I have just read The Fear - non fiction about life in Zimbabwe under Mugabe's regime.

Itsjustafleshwound · 15/04/2011 13:43

Zanzibar Chest - Aiden Hartley
Peter Godwin
Malachite - A Journey Through Africa
Theroux - Dark Star Safari
Tick Bite Fever
Andre Brink - Dry White Season

EldritchCleavage · 15/04/2011 13:43

The African Child and Return of the King, both by Camara Laye.
A Woman in her Prime by Samuel Asare Konadu
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

If you enjoyed Wilbur Smith it might be worth seeing if Neville Shute wrote any Africa-based books.

Ponders · 15/04/2011 13:38

Poisonwood Bible

Bratfink · 15/04/2011 13:36

purple hibiscus by the same woman as Half on a Yellow Sun (Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie) agree both wonderful

fivegomadinthelambingshed · 15/04/2011 13:34

Out of Africa
Flame Trees of Thika

ECT6 · 15/04/2011 13:31

One Half on a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie is brilliant

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