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Skulduggery
An account of a journey through deepest Indonesia in which the explorer comes face to face with cannibals, crocodiles and tracks down the Orang Utan. From the author of TRAVELS ON MY ELEPHANT, first published in 1987.
- GenresTravelNonfiction
145 pages, Hardcover
First published November 19, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 12, 2017
Mark Shand's 1987 travel with two companions to a relatively remote part of Irian Jaya in Indonesia (Irian Jaya is the western half, Papua New Guinea is the eastern side of the same island).
It is a very laid back style of writing, and to a certain degree that is consistent with Shand's attitude and so the whole trip. There is no doubt it is legitimately an interesting and challenging trip with some real danger in dealing with the natives. The travel further up river to meet the headhunters than the local missionaries have travelled before.
There are a few odd things however, and more than anything it shows how attitudes have changed since the '80s. The three things that suck out for me, was how much they focussed on wanting to trade to buy relics from the natives. Especially they wanted to buy skulls. This seemed pretty insensitive to be buying a grandfathers skull from a young man who wanted a parang (machete).
Similarly the three men spend a fair amount of time enticing the young native girls out of their huts to photograph them, paying particular attention to the fact they were topless. They really seemed to take any opportunity to photograph the girls in a state on undress, whether they were washing in the river or marching for their school.
The third thing was the three mens blatant smuggling of the artefacts (especially the skulls) out of the country when this was explicitly against the local laws.
More than the three examples above, it was perhaps the way there seemed to be no reluctance in writing about it. In fairness perhaps Shand saw this ultimately as honesty - if it was the way it happened, and they were the decisions they made, why change it for the book? I suppose there is a legitimacy around that.
Notwithstanding the above issues - which to be fair were presented in a funny enough way, and with some self deprecating humour, the book was well written and interesting. It plays a bit on Shand's relationship with the Monarchy (Shand is Camilla's brother), with the guide regularly using the line that Shand is very close to the Queen of Britain, so [whoever they are trying to get to cooperate] had better toe the line.
A short book which I would probably describe as a Redmond O'Hanlon lite.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
It is a very laid back style of writing, and to a certain degree that is consistent with Shand's attitude and so the whole trip. There is no doubt it is legitimately an interesting and challenging trip with some real danger in dealing with the natives. The travel further up river to meet the headhunters than the local missionaries have travelled before.
There are a few odd things however, and more than anything it shows how attitudes have changed since the '80s. The three things that suck out for me, was how much they focussed on wanting to trade to buy relics from the natives. Especially they wanted to buy skulls. This seemed pretty insensitive to be buying a grandfathers skull from a young man who wanted a parang (machete).
Similarly the three men spend a fair amount of time enticing the young native girls out of their huts to photograph them, paying particular attention to the fact they were topless. They really seemed to take any opportunity to photograph the girls in a state on undress, whether they were washing in the river or marching for their school.
The third thing was the three mens blatant smuggling of the artefacts (especially the skulls) out of the country when this was explicitly against the local laws.
More than the three examples above, it was perhaps the way there seemed to be no reluctance in writing about it. In fairness perhaps Shand saw this ultimately as honesty - if it was the way it happened, and they were the decisions they made, why change it for the book? I suppose there is a legitimacy around that.
Notwithstanding the above issues - which to be fair were presented in a funny enough way, and with some self deprecating humour, the book was well written and interesting. It plays a bit on Shand's relationship with the Monarchy (Shand is Camilla's brother), with the guide regularly using the line that Shand is very close to the Queen of Britain, so [whoever they are trying to get to cooperate] had better toe the line.
A short book which I would probably describe as a Redmond O'Hanlon lite.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
May 1, 2019
I gave this a 4 because I love the stories Mark Shand shares of his adventures. But I have to say this book left me feeling flat. It feels more like a 'hooray Henry' jolly than a truly intrepid journey - although I have no doubt it was every bit as dangerous as Mark says I found it hard to believe. I feel it reflects a trip by three pals with highly privileged upbringing who thought it would be a bit of a lark to go and find people at the other extreme of human 'civilisation'. At times I expected them to be tucking in to 'lashings of ginger beer'. Their attitude to buying skulls, and the fun they had smuggling them out of the country (illegally) was a real low point for me in my (up until then) adoration of Mark Shand and all he stood for. I think he skimmed over the experience and in so doing has failed to share the passion he had for travelling with the reader. If this had been my first Mark Shand book I would have given it a 2 and would probably never have picked up another of his books, and that would have been a very sad outcome.
September 3, 2024
A document of it's time, which is to say, strangely educational.
A time when wealthy English folk roamed the lands of the lesser man (not my opinion) to find a good story to tell when they get back home.
They also don't miss a chance to point their cameras at underage girls engaged in physical activities (Not Don McCullin, I should add).
It's problematic, amusing and short enough to not overstay it's welcome. Ultimately worthwhile.
It also made me happy to see how we've moved on.
A time when wealthy English folk roamed the lands of the lesser man (not my opinion) to find a good story to tell when they get back home.
They also don't miss a chance to point their cameras at underage girls engaged in physical activities (Not Don McCullin, I should add).
It's problematic, amusing and short enough to not overstay it's welcome. Ultimately worthwhile.
It also made me happy to see how we've moved on.
March 25, 2013
This book was good, but not as brilliant as his books on India.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews