John Kirk was the only companion of explorer David Livingstone to emerge untainted from the disastrous, tragic expedition up the Zambezi river between 1859 and 1863. Three years later, Kirk returned to Africa, to the notorious island of Zanzibar, ancient post of the slave trade between Africa and the Middle East. Half a century after the abolition of slavery in Britain, slave traffi cking persisted on Africa's east coast, apparently tolerated and even connived with by parts of the British Empire in the Indian Ocean. Kirk, appointed as medical officer to the British Consulate in Zanzibar, could do nothing. This extraordinary and controversial book brings Kirk's years in Zanzibar to life. The horrors of the overland passage from the interior, and the Zanzibar slave market itself, are vividly described, together with Kirk's final, bitter conflict with Livingstone, who blamed Kirk for his own failings. But it was Kirk's success in closing down the slave trade on the island which made him famous across the world. Using private diaries and papers, a long forgotten Victorian hero and an extraordinary chapter in British history are revived in detail.
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This is a humdinger of a tale. You might have thought that journeys into the heart of the Dark Continent with David Livingstone, Henry Morton Stanley and the likes of Richard Burton had already inspired so vast and breathless a literature that there were few surprises left to report. But that s the miracle of this story. Alastair Hazell s genius has been to plough through the huge and well-documented archive, follow his nose, and tell a tale from an entirely new perspective: the life of Dr John Kirk, an early companion to Dr Livingstone, and afterwards a humble Scottish medical officer and Acting British Consul in Zanzibar. In doing so he turns several accounts on their heads, rectifies a seriously skewed picture, rescues a reputation and on every page enthralls his readers . --Matthew Parris, The Spectator.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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The extraordinary story of John Kirk, the Scottish botanist who single-handedly ended the East African slave trade.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Andrewn
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
From the first lines of the prologue, in the dying light on Lake Nyasa, Alastair Hazell's story is gripping, and beautifully told. He knows his subject, the unhurried asphyxiation of the slave trade, in sufficient detail to challenge our collectively received wisdoms, and he explores the many resulting complexities with a deep humanity. Above all, he evokes the adventures and hardships, the certainties and uncertainties that the British encountered in East Africa. To the story he brings the smells and sharp shadows - the dangerous flavours - of Zanzibar, and mixes them in with the realpolitik of slavery at the time. And threaded through the story, the detailed and determined Dr Kirk is encouraged gradually onto centre stage, quietly influencing the turns of history for Zanzibar, the British and the Slave Trade. I congratulate Alastair Hazell on this subtle and marking book, and commend it to anyone interested in the region, our history or the troubled story of slavery.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Niel Black
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The author found a fascinating place - Zanzibar in the 19th Century - a fascinating issue (Arab slaving in Africa) and a fascinating central character - Dr Kirk, the British Consul, who played a critical role in ending that slavery. Characters include the Omani Sultans of Zanzibar (and their harems), Tippu Tip (a slaver whose caravans dominated Central Africa), David Livingstone, and an Arab princess who eloped to Europe. Zanzibar was a unique mixture of Arab, African and (later) Indian and European culture, that dominated east Africa and grew rich on slaves and spices.
Hazell brings all of that to life, with a central story around Kirk's decades long but finally successful struggle to end slavery. The book includes analysis - notably of slavery's long history and economic importance in Zanzibar - the atmosphere of Zanzibar - from life in slave market to life among the Europeans - takes in events in Africa, Oman and Britain - and some fascinating characters to give a human dimension. It's neither sensational nor too dry and academic.
I would recommend highly for anyone interested in slavery or colonialism as a well written book on a fascinating topic. And equally highly for anyone visiting Zanzibar who wants to understand its history and culture.
Hazell brings all of that to life, with a central story around Kirk's decades long but finally successful struggle to end slavery. The book includes analysis - notably of slavery's long history and economic importance in Zanzibar - the atmosphere of Zanzibar - from life in slave market to life among the Europeans - takes in events in Africa, Oman and Britain - and some fascinating characters to give a human dimension. It's neither sensational nor too dry and academic.
I would recommend highly for anyone interested in slavery or colonialism as a well written book on a fascinating topic. And equally highly for anyone visiting Zanzibar who wants to understand its history and culture.
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By Q
Format:Hardcover
First rate. This is above all a beautifully written, thoroughly researched and wholly absorbing story - but it also gives a fresh perspective on a fascinating part of our colonial history. We have prided ourselves on the enlightened abolition of slavery; on the selflessness and sacrifice of our missionaries; and on the quality and disinterestedness of our foreign policy and overseas administration. The truth is somewhat different: we tolerated and even connived in the continuation of slavery on the East African coast long after it had been "abolished"; we lionised men like Livingstone, whose character, on examination, proves to be less than heroic; we let bureaucracy suppress initiative and narrow interests prevent change. John Kirk,the focal point of this book, was a man of quiet principle, diplomatic skill, commitment and energy, whose part in closing down the East African slave trade puts him alongside the "great names" of the Victorian era. Alastair Hazell captures the essence of colonial Africa from the clash of cultures to the smell of Zanzibar. Thoroughly enjoyable.
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Completing the picture
The research that went into this book was meticulous and prodigious, and the story it tells about African-based slavery is a courageous one, considering the politically correct... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Dr Tony English
5.0 out of 5 stars
riveting read
I read this while on holiday in Zanzibar. Not only a genuinely riveting read, but the historical detail has enriched my general knowledge enormously.
Published 1 month ago by Sassy Varmint
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
I looked for relevant books whilst on holidays in Tanzania/Zanzibar.
I found this to very well researched and written and an excellent read.
Highly recommended.
I found this to very well researched and written and an excellent read.
Highly recommended.
Published 8 months ago by Austriauk
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Incredible story of John Kirk: the man who ended the East African...
I bought this book out of curiosity about the role of the British consular service in the emerging colonial development of Africa. Read more
Published 8 months ago by John McGuiggan
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