Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

In Papua New Guinea

Rate this book
Christina Dodwell, a young British explorer, sets out for unexplored jungles of New Guinea with little preparation --no map, no plan, no knowledge of the language or customs. This insouciant attitude often lands her in trouble.

She forgets her jungle boots (not for the last time) and has to hike barefoot through knee-deep mud, thorns and leeches. The charm of this attitude is that it allows her to experience her adventures with childlike freshness, a naive imperturbability which she shares with the Stone Age people she finds along the way.

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

2 people are currently reading
92 people want to read

About the author

Christina Dodwell

17 books13 followers
Christina was born in Nigeria, West Africa, and educated in England. Her life of remarkable adventure began by chance in 1975, when she made a 20,000-mile journey round Africa by horse, camel and dug-out canoe. She followed that up with journeys in Papua New Guinea, China, Siberia, Madagascar, Turkey and Iran.

Christina has made 3 television films and more than 40 radio documentary programmes for BBC Radio 4 - several have received distinguished merit awards. She has worked for the Consulate of Madagascar in London for fourteen years and in 1995 she founded The Dodwell Trust, a charity dedicated to the Third World.

Christina was awarded the Mungo Park Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in 1989.

Like Isabella Bird and Rosita Forbes, Christina demonstrates enormous courage, a keen eye for detail, an insatiable curiosity about the local people and great respect for their culture.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
9 (25%)
4 stars
13 (36%)
3 stars
7 (19%)
2 stars
6 (16%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Profile Image for Martinxo.
674 reviews69 followers
August 28, 2007
Read this on my holiday in France. Dodwell is a good writer and has a great story to tell. The books is an account of her solo travels through Papua New Guinea in the late 70s.

This line inspired me:

"A restless and sometimes reckless nature drove me forward and my confidence grew as I realised there is little to fear in this world."
Profile Image for Julian Walker.
Author 3 books12 followers
February 24, 2020
Encountering impenetrable jungles, hostile wildlife and missionary-resilient customs, the author goes way off the map on foot, horseback and by canoe, in a richly detailed and evocative journey through Papua New Guinea.

Meeting a host of colorful characters, experiencing tribal warfare, and deftly extricating herself from several sticky situations, the country and its people are vividly brought to life in a away that the reader can almost feel the leeches, thorns and cool waters.

I was instantly transported to this magical world by her writing and only hope that, several decades later on, it has not now been spoiled by human intervention.

A most excellent travel adventure and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Koula.
84 reviews
January 3, 2019
Love this book!
Christina Dodwell is relentless! Such a brave soul!
14 reviews2 followers
December 13, 2012
Read before I traveled to Papua New Guinea. She gets the flavor of the country. Shes either very brave or crazy.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.