David B. Jones was a man who made the most of life. His 54 years were packed full of enterprise and adventure. These letters tell the story of David and his family, his enthusiasms, his concern over world politics, third-world development and agriculture and his special love for Africa. The letters recount experiences in Europe, the U.S.A., the West indies, India, Bhutan, numerous African countries, and France. He was an esteemed economist with various publications to his name and had worked for the Oxford Institute of Economics and Statistics, the United Nations in Geneva, the Overseas Development Institute (London), The Ford Foundation, Crown Agents (London)and the World Bank, in addition to consultancy projects. His particular expertise lay in knowledge of land management, agriculture and food production in under-developed countries.
At the time of his death in March 1997, he was Resident Representative of the World Bank in Chad, Africa. He was hit by a car driven by a smuggler trying to evade customs men in N'Djamena. In the weeks before his death he was visiting hospitals, schools and other institutions in Chad, investigating the most needy and fruitful areas for World Bank Support.
After his death a Charity was set up by the World Bank in his memory, to support Chadian girls in secondary education.
Throughout his life, David was an enthusiast - linguist, explorer, anthropologist, botanist, rose, grape and orchid cultivator, planter of trees, experimenter in self-sufficiency, gourmet and cook, gardener, builder, intrepid driver through inhospitable territory, lover of safaris, sailing and wind-surfing (notwithstanding lions, crocs and hippos), climbing, camping, trekking, amateur dramatics and music making, craftsman, student of world religions, antique collector...
He was fascinated by people and their motivation, an avid reader, eloquent writer, communicator and public speaker, astute and prophetic in his political observations.... the list is endless. He had an endearing sense of humour. Above all, he was honest, generous, friendly and likeable, wonderfully stimulating company and endlessly inventive.
Add to this love of family - a dedicated son, brother, husband and father. He was no saint; he loved life in all its fullness and gained as well as giving. His was a charmed life, cut short and yet fulfilling both for him and for those around him.
All this is revealed in the hundreds of letters which form the bulk of the book. Readers may share some of David's energy, vitality and zest for life.
