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Quondam: Travels in a Once World
Once in a while a travel book comes along that pushes at the boundaries of the genre. Quondam: Travels in a Once World does exactly that, asking us to re-imagine the relevance and potential of travel--in this case, an epic, true-grit expedition by bike through the heart of Africa without the umbilical cord of technology, when being on your own meant exactly that.
A superb observer and story-teller, John Devoy recounts his adventure in an imaginative and captivating style that has won the admiration of Dervla Murphy and Ted Simon, two writers who have left their own indelible marks on the literature of travel.
A superb observer and story-teller, John Devoy recounts his adventure in an imaginative and captivating style that has won the admiration of Dervla Murphy and Ted Simon, two writers who have left their own indelible marks on the literature of travel.
- GenresTravel
272 pages, Paperback
Published June 29, 2019
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March 17, 2020An epic true tale of discovery. John Devoy shares his encounters with rare places and people a along a long line over the Earth stretching south from the Mediterranean deep into Africa. Under his own pedal power at a pace allowing intimate contact with every detail , his bike traced the line. Thirty years later all the memories are still sparkling as clear as ever, his prose distilling the weeks and months of grind. A good job done, for many of the people and places are long since erased by civil war politics, and the virtual world of phones , digital evaporation and modernisation. These days package deals dilute these treasures. This book brings you into close focus on places and into the homes and lives, one to one, reliving the generosity and warm hospitality that the inhabitants freely offered . The writing is now a tale of discovery ,well told, as well as a revelation of the journey of self discovery required to retrace and record it all from this new perspective. A good read.
July 30, 2019
Quondam is a fascinating account of travels, mostly on a bicycle!, through places that are being obliterated at the speed of light (Sudan being the most recent example). As if in the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, John takes us on a time travel offering a generous story of his experiences starting in Cairo and continuing in Nairobi that took place in 1980s, in a way rescuing these memories and places from perishment. Even though the story was written 30 years later it's peppered with entries from his journals capturing "here and now" and enriched with his mature insights and educated, empathic understanding of the visited places and people met. John has an incredible ear for stories which were captured in the book with flair and wit on top of his own captivating story telling. Each reading of his book uncovers another layer and it's nearly as exciting as being taken on that adventure yet we don't risk any injuries or cerebral malaria but only cerebral melioration. And I'm thrilled to know that it's part of a trilogy so I'm buckling up in my arm chair for another bumpy cycle!
December 10, 2025
Every now and then, like a special place on a road trip, you stumble on a book that stands out from the rest. Quondam landed in my hands on a recommendation and in multiple readings has delighted me with its unique, observant, quiet tale. Devoy’s thoughtful and empathetic writing embraces the reader into life on the road, savoured, before the constant distraction and safety net of technology. As he travels deeper into Africa on his bicycle you have that much treasured feeling of being with him, feeling the wind in your hair, sitting sharing food with strangers, seeing the stars at night as you camp by the Nile. It’s little wonder Dervla Murphy was such a support to him. This is a book to treasure, and share with your friends.
July 18, 2019
It's hard to imagine that this is John's first book, the way he writes you are right there with him at that moment. It's not a book about kilometers cycled or countries crossed but the people met and the experiences of the journey. Travelling from Cork To North Cape and then down to Cape Town is an epic in itself but what is truly memorable are the characters. You really inside the mind of John and you are unable to put the book down, roll on the second book!
July 10, 2019
I was recommended this book by an acquaintance who knew I had spent time in Sudan and it had me captivated from start to finish. Bringing back many memories of a special time in that region a couple of years before the authors adventure there. I liked the way John juxtaposed his account drawn from his journals written at the time, with a twenty first Century reflection on how the world, and that region in particular, has changed and it's many challenges and traumas it has been through since his travels in the mid 1980's.
It is an honest and accurate account of his experience there, if my memories of similar experiences of kindness and humanity are anything to go by. He does not shy away from expressing his own honest feelings of how he felt at the time, which for me, made it a great read as I could relate to so much of it.
I thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to the sequels. Thanks a million John.
Rob Coppard
It is an honest and accurate account of his experience there, if my memories of similar experiences of kindness and humanity are anything to go by. He does not shy away from expressing his own honest feelings of how he felt at the time, which for me, made it a great read as I could relate to so much of it.
I thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to the sequels. Thanks a million John.
Rob Coppard
July 17, 2019
I was enthralled by Quondam. I was new to travel books but found John's book fascinating in terms of his adventure, the richness of the human experience and the vivid depiction of landscapes and people he witnessed along the way. Highly recommend it.
July 17, 2019
Great scale to John's writing and travels. His journey is into a rare investigation of self and experience via a myriad of assorted nations and cultures. An exquisite read and a quality book that deserves its rating. It's a book that lives long in the memory.
July 11, 2019
I would rate this book and the author, John Devoy up there with Eric Newby, Paul Theroux and of course Dervla Murphy.
This was just one part of the author's journey through Europe and Africa on a bike. Quondam covers Egypt, Sudan ,Zaire (DRC), Rawanda,Uganda.
As usual when reading about travel through the poorest parts of the world, it's the people with the least that give the most hospitality. Throughout the book the author gives hints as to forthcoming tragedy. I, as probably many readers would have been vaguely aware of the Dian Fossey story and the mountain gorillas,this educated me some more.
This is the author's first book,I do hope he writes more about his journey. A natural writer.
This was just one part of the author's journey through Europe and Africa on a bike. Quondam covers Egypt, Sudan ,Zaire (DRC), Rawanda,Uganda.
As usual when reading about travel through the poorest parts of the world, it's the people with the least that give the most hospitality. Throughout the book the author gives hints as to forthcoming tragedy. I, as probably many readers would have been vaguely aware of the Dian Fossey story and the mountain gorillas,this educated me some more.
This is the author's first book,I do hope he writes more about his journey. A natural writer.
August 16, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Interesting, honest and funny. Whilst it is based on the writer's travels, he writes like it is a drama, leaving you wondering what happens next. You don't have to be an avid cyclist or intrepid traveller to read this book. A very well written engaging book.
July 11, 2019
This is a truly superb telling of how it was like to travel back in the 80's, no gadgets, no social media, total immersion into the very NOW and countries/cultures one would pass through. Being an avid cyclist myself, I could identify with many details and this made it extra special for me to read. John Devoy did an amazing job jotting down his adventures, the reader sits first row and is really being sucked into it... Absolutely recommended!
July 10, 2019
I loved it! The author travels and writes with carefree abandon and a sense of adventure which is truly engaging and quirky. It's a rare gem and the author (John Devoy) has a truly wonderful turn of phrase, almost Chatwinesque I would say. The title itself bears that out and the book does not disappoint in both style and substance. Well worth a read.
September 3, 2022
Loved this book. Will reread after a time when I am done traveling. He captures all of the uncertainties, pitfalls, doubts, and life affirming magic of the unexpected on the long journey. Striking notes that are both awesomely beautiful and true.
October 21, 2022
This was an exceptional book - what a journey from start to finish! John has an excellent way of writing, which is so gripping. It felt as if I was taking the journey with him. I got lost in this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a sense of adventure. Best travel book I have read!
July 11, 2019
John takes us with him on his extraordinary journey on his bike through Africa in a not connected world. An amazing , entertaining book about culture and people, enjoyed every minute. And lets face it, will we ever be able to do these adventures. So, thanxs John for let us take part...
January 24, 2025
An incredibly well-written story about an incredible experience. The journey itself is obviously fantastic, but it's John Devoy's ability to tie together both the fascinating details of unique individual moments along with the broader sweep of the state-of-mind that such travel puts a person in that really captivates and enables the reader to feel a part of the journey themselves. For those who have travelled remotely, extensively, or adventurously, this book feels very familiar, and reading it inflames strongly the desire to sleep rough and travel to far-off places
January 20, 2021
Mr. Devoy’s journey through a once world, Quondam, is a proper book title to encapsulate the richness and diversity of his unique Quondam experiences. The book begins this substantial long distance trek in Cairo, Egypt, after he has been on the road for approximately nine months. Imagine, traveling in Europe, the Middle East and Africa without a mobile communications device(s)! Makes one shudder.
A ferry ride from Aqaba, Jordan to the Egyptian port of Nuweiba, with his County Cork pot holing friend Eamon, begins his African journey. After a bit of planning at the unique but standard Oxford hotel, and a good bye to Eamon (off to the Saudi border hoping to get to Pakistan), John left Cairo on New Year’s Day 1986. (Three years later John and Eamon meet again.)
His various adventures heading to Giza from holding onto a cart loaded with three headless bulls for a gentle cycling assist to day dreaming about Eratosthenes, passes time until he can cross the Nile at Giza. Along the way the cultural experiences multiply exponentially. As he stops to have a look at a map a truck sideswipes the bicycle and him. Luckily he escapes serious physical injury, but the shock will remain sealed within his memory. He receives first-aid assistance from locals. And moves on.
The farther down into Egypt John travels, the more genuine humanity and kindness he encounters. (Even though Irishmen/Irish ladies, are known for their selfless missionary work, I was a bit surprised that he did not encounter a slight bit of unfriendliness from some whose relatives were under the colonial thumb at one time or another. Guilt by coerced association.) John was able, as he points out, to “let go” and embrace each culture. Traveling solo the “wonderful people” can exhaust one. All along his trip he is immersed in many similar local cultures but different individual “worlds.”
He arrived in Aswan, home of the Russian built dam that opened in 1970. General Abel Nasser knew that controlling water resources, no matter where in the world you live, equals societies survival. On 16 January 1986, after spending a few days with old and new friends at the cost friendly Aswan Continental Hotel, it was off to locate the ferry to Sudan. The ferry crossed Lake Nasser to the Sudanese portion, Lake Nubia, with passengers exiting at the small ferry port of Wadi Halfa. Along the journey John provides a few interesting and necessary local history stories and perhaps lessons. This is one of them. Before the flood waters of Lake Nasser were released, UNESCO was asked and agreed to help (1964) to perform one of the most amazing engineering feats by raising the Nubian Great Temple weighing in at 250,000 tonne and other near by temples to higher ground.
John’s journey through the Sudan began a pattern of travel that would repeat itself quite frequently. After pushing his bicycle through sand covered paths, sometimes for long distances, he might have the opportunity to pay for a ride on top of a truck (e.g. Nissan 103-horse-power) usually sitting on transported goods. The distance from Sudanese port of Wadi to capital city Khartoum is about 900 kilometers.
He shows us what a typical travel day through the sand was like. Remember there were no paved roads, yet. As he traveled through “superb wilderness” he tried to ride, continuing to fall off, rinse and repeat, so to speak. He was “...pushing, dragging, sweating...gulping tepid water with a squeeze of lemon and a drop of iodine.”
Along the roads and byways it certainly appears the Sudanese were very welcoming and generous. He was often fed and provided a place to sleep albeit in a court yard, yard or sometimes a bed.
The required bicycle repairs were numerous and repeating over the entire trip. He was usually able to find a metal shop for more serious repairs. John mentions in a video on his web site (check out the videos and pictures) that he once had to repair his tires 5 times within a couple of hours.
Through out the book he shows that the mental part of the journey is the most testing; the internal rationalization. As in most challenging endeavors, the physical day to day effort you deal with as the mental strain to move on and keep the pace moving, sometimes takes a bit of mental creativity and distraction: counting telegraphs poles or a goal of moving on to the next village or city. I would think most lone travelers/explorers pass through these progress barriers. John feels that in ones travels “you enter a paradox: there is continuous change on the outside but inside there is a timeless state... inspiring happenings merge into a singular complex experience... .”
Along the journey John experiences a wind storm (habb) under a tarp in the back of a truck, sand eventually occupying all available body entry points; guards at borders requiring entry bonuses; stops at unofficial military road blocks; however, in contrast, the ingrained culture of kindness and generous individuals in the Sudan continued.
An affliction of the liver, Hepatitis A, usually caused by contamination of food and/or water, invaded our traveler’s body. No vaccinations were available in 1986/7. His stamina, determination and inner drive appears to me to be the characteristics/qualities required of many explorers to journey to their goals. Hepatitis A does indeed makes ones limbs feel leaden as energy is slowly and continuously drained, seeping away. But he cycled/dragged onward.
In Zaire, where Sir Roger Casement wrote about abuse and torture of indigenous peoples, John wanted to visit the Virunga National Park, the outdoor lab of Dian Fossey and her gorilla associates. With a letter from a friend where he spent a night he was allowed a trip through the Virunga National Park. Another adventure into a different “world.”
As he traveled through Uganda his Hepatitis A was taking its toll. Luckily for him, he came upon the Sisters from the Irish Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM). Sister Carmel drove him to a MMM hospital where Dr. Bernadette O’Brien attended to his physical and mental state. After three days rest it was off, by bus, to Nairobi Kenya. At the Irish Embassy he collected awaiting mail. Unfortunately, the mail did not provide good news.
I attempted to provide a small taste of the John’s journey; through sand storms, sand dominated “roads,” pushing and dragging a bicycle; the inherent kindness of African indigenous peoples; the darkness of enclosing nights, all alone; bright stars, colorful and different birds; truck rides in the deserts and boat excursions into the unknown.
John’s many insightful observations and unintentional discoveries within each individual “world” he encountered, including African history; insight into the lives of ordinary people and life’s lessons in general; provides us with more than a journey into the unknown. It provides the reader with a possible journey into the reader’s vision and thoughts of the unknown, but yet discoverable worlds. Whether it is a short or long journey, we just have to summon up John’s brand of courage and determination to get on our bikes.
A ferry ride from Aqaba, Jordan to the Egyptian port of Nuweiba, with his County Cork pot holing friend Eamon, begins his African journey. After a bit of planning at the unique but standard Oxford hotel, and a good bye to Eamon (off to the Saudi border hoping to get to Pakistan), John left Cairo on New Year’s Day 1986. (Three years later John and Eamon meet again.)
His various adventures heading to Giza from holding onto a cart loaded with three headless bulls for a gentle cycling assist to day dreaming about Eratosthenes, passes time until he can cross the Nile at Giza. Along the way the cultural experiences multiply exponentially. As he stops to have a look at a map a truck sideswipes the bicycle and him. Luckily he escapes serious physical injury, but the shock will remain sealed within his memory. He receives first-aid assistance from locals. And moves on.
The farther down into Egypt John travels, the more genuine humanity and kindness he encounters. (Even though Irishmen/Irish ladies, are known for their selfless missionary work, I was a bit surprised that he did not encounter a slight bit of unfriendliness from some whose relatives were under the colonial thumb at one time or another. Guilt by coerced association.) John was able, as he points out, to “let go” and embrace each culture. Traveling solo the “wonderful people” can exhaust one. All along his trip he is immersed in many similar local cultures but different individual “worlds.”
He arrived in Aswan, home of the Russian built dam that opened in 1970. General Abel Nasser knew that controlling water resources, no matter where in the world you live, equals societies survival. On 16 January 1986, after spending a few days with old and new friends at the cost friendly Aswan Continental Hotel, it was off to locate the ferry to Sudan. The ferry crossed Lake Nasser to the Sudanese portion, Lake Nubia, with passengers exiting at the small ferry port of Wadi Halfa. Along the journey John provides a few interesting and necessary local history stories and perhaps lessons. This is one of them. Before the flood waters of Lake Nasser were released, UNESCO was asked and agreed to help (1964) to perform one of the most amazing engineering feats by raising the Nubian Great Temple weighing in at 250,000 tonne and other near by temples to higher ground.
John’s journey through the Sudan began a pattern of travel that would repeat itself quite frequently. After pushing his bicycle through sand covered paths, sometimes for long distances, he might have the opportunity to pay for a ride on top of a truck (e.g. Nissan 103-horse-power) usually sitting on transported goods. The distance from Sudanese port of Wadi to capital city Khartoum is about 900 kilometers.
He shows us what a typical travel day through the sand was like. Remember there were no paved roads, yet. As he traveled through “superb wilderness” he tried to ride, continuing to fall off, rinse and repeat, so to speak. He was “...pushing, dragging, sweating...gulping tepid water with a squeeze of lemon and a drop of iodine.”
Along the roads and byways it certainly appears the Sudanese were very welcoming and generous. He was often fed and provided a place to sleep albeit in a court yard, yard or sometimes a bed.
The required bicycle repairs were numerous and repeating over the entire trip. He was usually able to find a metal shop for more serious repairs. John mentions in a video on his web site (check out the videos and pictures) that he once had to repair his tires 5 times within a couple of hours.
Through out the book he shows that the mental part of the journey is the most testing; the internal rationalization. As in most challenging endeavors, the physical day to day effort you deal with as the mental strain to move on and keep the pace moving, sometimes takes a bit of mental creativity and distraction: counting telegraphs poles or a goal of moving on to the next village or city. I would think most lone travelers/explorers pass through these progress barriers. John feels that in ones travels “you enter a paradox: there is continuous change on the outside but inside there is a timeless state... inspiring happenings merge into a singular complex experience... .”
Along the journey John experiences a wind storm (habb) under a tarp in the back of a truck, sand eventually occupying all available body entry points; guards at borders requiring entry bonuses; stops at unofficial military road blocks; however, in contrast, the ingrained culture of kindness and generous individuals in the Sudan continued.
An affliction of the liver, Hepatitis A, usually caused by contamination of food and/or water, invaded our traveler’s body. No vaccinations were available in 1986/7. His stamina, determination and inner drive appears to me to be the characteristics/qualities required of many explorers to journey to their goals. Hepatitis A does indeed makes ones limbs feel leaden as energy is slowly and continuously drained, seeping away. But he cycled/dragged onward.
In Zaire, where Sir Roger Casement wrote about abuse and torture of indigenous peoples, John wanted to visit the Virunga National Park, the outdoor lab of Dian Fossey and her gorilla associates. With a letter from a friend where he spent a night he was allowed a trip through the Virunga National Park. Another adventure into a different “world.”
As he traveled through Uganda his Hepatitis A was taking its toll. Luckily for him, he came upon the Sisters from the Irish Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM). Sister Carmel drove him to a MMM hospital where Dr. Bernadette O’Brien attended to his physical and mental state. After three days rest it was off, by bus, to Nairobi Kenya. At the Irish Embassy he collected awaiting mail. Unfortunately, the mail did not provide good news.
I attempted to provide a small taste of the John’s journey; through sand storms, sand dominated “roads,” pushing and dragging a bicycle; the inherent kindness of African indigenous peoples; the darkness of enclosing nights, all alone; bright stars, colorful and different birds; truck rides in the deserts and boat excursions into the unknown.
John’s many insightful observations and unintentional discoveries within each individual “world” he encountered, including African history; insight into the lives of ordinary people and life’s lessons in general; provides us with more than a journey into the unknown. It provides the reader with a possible journey into the reader’s vision and thoughts of the unknown, but yet discoverable worlds. Whether it is a short or long journey, we just have to summon up John’s brand of courage and determination to get on our bikes.
February 6, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this young man's recounting of his exciting cycling adventure. He travelled from Cairo to Uganda in 1985 and had described his surroundings and the people he met jso well despite being so long ago. Sadly the world is longer exists in that form. I loved this book.
October 30, 2018
Between the elegant, evocative covers this book, "Quondam: Travels in a once world", is a strong, robust, beautiful work. It reads like a symphonic paean to the Lands and People encountered by John Devoy on this epic bicycle odyssey. It is crafted through his rugged toil and grit and the help of his tough ,resilient "war horse" mount and the help of the many generous and hospitable "Strangers" met along roads less travelled.
The writing was simultaneously lyrical,philosophical,rough and witty. I laughed, cried, wept and sighed at different passages through the book . Read and be inspired and moved.
The writing was simultaneously lyrical,philosophical,rough and witty. I laughed, cried, wept and sighed at different passages through the book . Read and be inspired and moved.
April 18, 2020
In Quondam beschrijft John Devoy zijn epische fietsreis van 33.000 km van Dublin, naar Zuid Afrika via Lapland, waarover hij twee jaar heeft gedaan. Deze reis vond plaats in het midden van de jaren 80 vorige eeuw. Een tijd zonder mobiele telefoons, zonder face time. Devoy was volkomen op zichzelf. Contacten met het thuisfront verliepen via de poste restante.
Quondam gaat over Devoy's tijd in Afrika. Daar ben je meteen als je zijn boek gaat lezen. Prachtige beschrijvingen van sterrennachten in de woestijn, rivieren, landschappen en jungles. Je voelt Devoy’s liefde voor de natuur en de inheemse bevolking. Hij bevindt zich op een gelijk level met de wereld om zich heen, hij kijkt niet door een westerse bril. Hij neemt de zaken in zich op zoals ze zijn. Dat gebeurt op een bijzondere en intense manier, daarom heeft zijn boek een filosofische lading. De auteur is eerlijk en durft ook zijn twijfels te beschrijven en bepaalde handelingen die hij al dan niet gedaan heeft, zonder te weten of hij het al dan niet goed deed. De beschreven situaties zijn allemaal herkenbaar en maken de vraag los wat je zelf zou hebben gedaan. Geef je water aan het vastgebonden ezeltje in de brandende zon, of ben je bang voor een inbreuk op de plaatselijke zeden? Stuur je de foto's die je van iemand hebt genomen inderdaad op zodra je thuis bent, zoals beloofd? Dit soort menselijkheden tillen het boek boven het niveau van een gewoon reisboek uit. Ook schrijft hij erg beeldend. Je ruikt de bladeren, je hoort de vogels, je voelt de koorts van een malaria aanval. Soms spreekt er verdriet uit de pagina’s vanwege verwoestingen van de natuur en verwoestingen van de vrede zoals de oorlog in Soedan. Hij was daar voor het geweld losbarstte, en hij roept een paradijselijke sfeer op bij zijn beschrijving van het dorpje Golo, compleet met douche onder een waterval, vogelgezang en aardige mensen. Des te harder komt de toevoeging aan dat dit vriendelijke dorp enige jaren na zijn reis ten te prooi viel aan geweld en genocide. Hij zegt heel mooi dat zijn memory een memorial is geworden. En dat terwijl de beschrijving van zijn verblijf in Golo een van de mooiste en vrolijkste delen van zijn boek is.
Een aanrader, dit bijzondere werk. Ik heb Quondam in één adem uitgelezen, zoals we hier in Nederland zeggen. En hoewel het zich in het verleden afspeelt is het nog steeds actueel.
In Quadam John Devoy describes his epic journey on bike. 33.000 km from Dublin to South Africa, via Lapland. It took him two years. His journey took place in the mid eighties of the last century. A time without mobile telephones, without facetime. Devoy was on totaly on himself. Contact with friends and family took place via poste restante.
Quondam decribes Devoy’s time in Africa. Once you start reading you are there: hot, noisy, beautiful describtions about starnights in the desert, rivers, landscapes and jungles. You can feel Devoy’s love voor nature and the natives. He is on level with them, he is not the big white western man. Devoys takes affairs as they are. He does this in a special and intense manner, that’s why his book has a philosophical undertone. The author is straight, he also dares to describe his doubts en particular actions he took or did not take, withhout knowing if what he did or not did was good. All the described situations are recognizable en make you think what you yourself should have done. Do you give water tot he tied up donkey in the burning sun, or are you affraid to violate local costumes? Do you indeed send the pictures you took from somebody as soon as you are back home? This human dignity makes Devoy’s book more than just a description of a journey. He also writes very visual. You smell the leaves, you hear the birds, you feel the fever of malaria. Sometimes you feel sadness between the pages, because of what happens with nature, or the violence in Sudan. Devoy describes a paradise like stay in the village Golo, complete with a shower under a waterfall, Golo being a village that some years after Devoy’s journey became victim of violence and genocide. He sais very beautiful that his memory became a memorial. This is the more destressing because the describtion of his stay in Golo is one of the most beautiful and joyful parts of his book.
I recommend this amazing piece of work. I did read Quondam in one breath, as we say in the Netherlands. And although it takes place in the past, it is still actual and attractive.
Quondam gaat over Devoy's tijd in Afrika. Daar ben je meteen als je zijn boek gaat lezen. Prachtige beschrijvingen van sterrennachten in de woestijn, rivieren, landschappen en jungles. Je voelt Devoy’s liefde voor de natuur en de inheemse bevolking. Hij bevindt zich op een gelijk level met de wereld om zich heen, hij kijkt niet door een westerse bril. Hij neemt de zaken in zich op zoals ze zijn. Dat gebeurt op een bijzondere en intense manier, daarom heeft zijn boek een filosofische lading. De auteur is eerlijk en durft ook zijn twijfels te beschrijven en bepaalde handelingen die hij al dan niet gedaan heeft, zonder te weten of hij het al dan niet goed deed. De beschreven situaties zijn allemaal herkenbaar en maken de vraag los wat je zelf zou hebben gedaan. Geef je water aan het vastgebonden ezeltje in de brandende zon, of ben je bang voor een inbreuk op de plaatselijke zeden? Stuur je de foto's die je van iemand hebt genomen inderdaad op zodra je thuis bent, zoals beloofd? Dit soort menselijkheden tillen het boek boven het niveau van een gewoon reisboek uit. Ook schrijft hij erg beeldend. Je ruikt de bladeren, je hoort de vogels, je voelt de koorts van een malaria aanval. Soms spreekt er verdriet uit de pagina’s vanwege verwoestingen van de natuur en verwoestingen van de vrede zoals de oorlog in Soedan. Hij was daar voor het geweld losbarstte, en hij roept een paradijselijke sfeer op bij zijn beschrijving van het dorpje Golo, compleet met douche onder een waterval, vogelgezang en aardige mensen. Des te harder komt de toevoeging aan dat dit vriendelijke dorp enige jaren na zijn reis ten te prooi viel aan geweld en genocide. Hij zegt heel mooi dat zijn memory een memorial is geworden. En dat terwijl de beschrijving van zijn verblijf in Golo een van de mooiste en vrolijkste delen van zijn boek is.
Een aanrader, dit bijzondere werk. Ik heb Quondam in één adem uitgelezen, zoals we hier in Nederland zeggen. En hoewel het zich in het verleden afspeelt is het nog steeds actueel.
In Quadam John Devoy describes his epic journey on bike. 33.000 km from Dublin to South Africa, via Lapland. It took him two years. His journey took place in the mid eighties of the last century. A time without mobile telephones, without facetime. Devoy was on totaly on himself. Contact with friends and family took place via poste restante.
Quondam decribes Devoy’s time in Africa. Once you start reading you are there: hot, noisy, beautiful describtions about starnights in the desert, rivers, landscapes and jungles. You can feel Devoy’s love voor nature and the natives. He is on level with them, he is not the big white western man. Devoys takes affairs as they are. He does this in a special and intense manner, that’s why his book has a philosophical undertone. The author is straight, he also dares to describe his doubts en particular actions he took or did not take, withhout knowing if what he did or not did was good. All the described situations are recognizable en make you think what you yourself should have done. Do you give water tot he tied up donkey in the burning sun, or are you affraid to violate local costumes? Do you indeed send the pictures you took from somebody as soon as you are back home? This human dignity makes Devoy’s book more than just a description of a journey. He also writes very visual. You smell the leaves, you hear the birds, you feel the fever of malaria. Sometimes you feel sadness between the pages, because of what happens with nature, or the violence in Sudan. Devoy describes a paradise like stay in the village Golo, complete with a shower under a waterfall, Golo being a village that some years after Devoy’s journey became victim of violence and genocide. He sais very beautiful that his memory became a memorial. This is the more destressing because the describtion of his stay in Golo is one of the most beautiful and joyful parts of his book.
I recommend this amazing piece of work. I did read Quondam in one breath, as we say in the Netherlands. And although it takes place in the past, it is still actual and attractive.
June 1, 2021
Kids, don’t try this at home…you won't find it there
Having set out on a few adventures of my own in the past I was looking forward to reading John Devoy’s book. I knew it was about cycling and I knew it was about a young man’s adventure and that was about all. These kinds of stories always begin with an inspiration to get out of one’s comfort zone. There is an excitement that bubbles up from within and from that moment of agreement with the self the adventure begins. Quondam does not disappoint in this regard as we are thrust into the hot and dusty from the get-go. Yes, there is a bicycle involved but it is not really a ‘bike trip’. What really fascinates about this particular journey is the dedication to the quest and how that quest evolves. There is something really challenging about surrendering to the elements – to push yourself beyond your known abilities, to acknowledge when your actions have not served you well and realizing that by allowing yourself to be assisted by others you receive rewards beyond the obvious initial need.
Whilst there is something heroic about the solitary quest up a mountain or across an ocean this story is so relatable because of its interactions with others. Rather than anticipating the next physical and mental challenge that John would face, I was instead eager to meet the next character that the road would offer up. We are gifted with John’s experiences with other cultures and religions and presented with nations at peace and at war. I was reminded at this juncture in the book that when I went on my own adventures I left behind family and friends who were rightfully worried for my safety. At the time I couldn’t really couldn’t see it from that perspective. John conveys this inner conflict of the traveller when having to process news from home.
The acts of kindness provided by strangers in Quondam is particularly moving and especially poignant at this moment in history when our differences are highlighted daily in our media. Whilst this is ostensibly the story of one young man finding more about himself, for me it was also a clarion call to act - to leave our comfortable lives behind and explore. More than ever we need to broaden our minds. It is true that this particular journey could not be undertaken today but there are opportunities all around us, near and far and the most accessible journey is that one between our ears.
Quondam is a very engaging read. I especially recommend reading it when you are on your holidays – when your defenses are down and the call to the wild from within is the loudest. Happy trails.
Having set out on a few adventures of my own in the past I was looking forward to reading John Devoy’s book. I knew it was about cycling and I knew it was about a young man’s adventure and that was about all. These kinds of stories always begin with an inspiration to get out of one’s comfort zone. There is an excitement that bubbles up from within and from that moment of agreement with the self the adventure begins. Quondam does not disappoint in this regard as we are thrust into the hot and dusty from the get-go. Yes, there is a bicycle involved but it is not really a ‘bike trip’. What really fascinates about this particular journey is the dedication to the quest and how that quest evolves. There is something really challenging about surrendering to the elements – to push yourself beyond your known abilities, to acknowledge when your actions have not served you well and realizing that by allowing yourself to be assisted by others you receive rewards beyond the obvious initial need.
Whilst there is something heroic about the solitary quest up a mountain or across an ocean this story is so relatable because of its interactions with others. Rather than anticipating the next physical and mental challenge that John would face, I was instead eager to meet the next character that the road would offer up. We are gifted with John’s experiences with other cultures and religions and presented with nations at peace and at war. I was reminded at this juncture in the book that when I went on my own adventures I left behind family and friends who were rightfully worried for my safety. At the time I couldn’t really couldn’t see it from that perspective. John conveys this inner conflict of the traveller when having to process news from home.
The acts of kindness provided by strangers in Quondam is particularly moving and especially poignant at this moment in history when our differences are highlighted daily in our media. Whilst this is ostensibly the story of one young man finding more about himself, for me it was also a clarion call to act - to leave our comfortable lives behind and explore. More than ever we need to broaden our minds. It is true that this particular journey could not be undertaken today but there are opportunities all around us, near and far and the most accessible journey is that one between our ears.
Quondam is a very engaging read. I especially recommend reading it when you are on your holidays – when your defenses are down and the call to the wild from within is the loudest. Happy trails.
May 11, 2020
Most travel books these days focus on the places the author visits, its people, cultures and landscapes. But there is another unmentioned dimension that we rarely factor in: the time.
The experiences of these travel authors are immediate, a flat portrait of the world they are traversing. The immediacy of this writing can be raw at times, yet the emotions of the author can cloud the world they are describing; it is only once you step back and let these memories age that they gain a deeper meaning, that you truly begin to understand the land you travelled all that time ago, and even the journey itself and how it changed you.
This book presents exactly that, a rare example of a once world described through thirty years of wisdom and reflection. John writes with immense skill about a multitude of encounters and experiences, painting a vivid picture of the Africa that once existed. Whether I was transported to the beating heat and unending sand of the Sahara long before the invasion of tarmac roads, or the bouncing cab of a truck on a nervous, night-time journey through the thick jungle of Zaire, I felt like I was right there at that exact place in time.
I believe the fact that John started his book several months into his journey helped hugely in his depiction of Africa. Although we come to learn much about John throughout this book, we do not read of his gradual introduction to life on the road, something that would perhaps allow us an easier understanding of the author. Instead, from the offset we are treated to an unravelling of this continent in this bygone era, intertwined with poetic and philosophical musings that give us a better understanding of John and his mindset than any slow introduction to life on the road could have ever achieved.
As someone who recently undertook their own journey through Africa by bicycle, I have a lot of respect for the way John has told this tale. Those parts of Africa that have changed little in thirty years felt exactly as described, and those that no longer exist in the same form are described with such accuracy that I almost felt like I was there too.
Admittedly, I enjoy reading most books about grand bicycle adventures, but this is something different. The depth of the writing here takes this book to another level. Put most simply, there is so much more substance here; it is a book that will leave you thinking long after you have put it down.
The experiences of these travel authors are immediate, a flat portrait of the world they are traversing. The immediacy of this writing can be raw at times, yet the emotions of the author can cloud the world they are describing; it is only once you step back and let these memories age that they gain a deeper meaning, that you truly begin to understand the land you travelled all that time ago, and even the journey itself and how it changed you.
This book presents exactly that, a rare example of a once world described through thirty years of wisdom and reflection. John writes with immense skill about a multitude of encounters and experiences, painting a vivid picture of the Africa that once existed. Whether I was transported to the beating heat and unending sand of the Sahara long before the invasion of tarmac roads, or the bouncing cab of a truck on a nervous, night-time journey through the thick jungle of Zaire, I felt like I was right there at that exact place in time.
I believe the fact that John started his book several months into his journey helped hugely in his depiction of Africa. Although we come to learn much about John throughout this book, we do not read of his gradual introduction to life on the road, something that would perhaps allow us an easier understanding of the author. Instead, from the offset we are treated to an unravelling of this continent in this bygone era, intertwined with poetic and philosophical musings that give us a better understanding of John and his mindset than any slow introduction to life on the road could have ever achieved.
As someone who recently undertook their own journey through Africa by bicycle, I have a lot of respect for the way John has told this tale. Those parts of Africa that have changed little in thirty years felt exactly as described, and those that no longer exist in the same form are described with such accuracy that I almost felt like I was there too.
Admittedly, I enjoy reading most books about grand bicycle adventures, but this is something different. The depth of the writing here takes this book to another level. Put most simply, there is so much more substance here; it is a book that will leave you thinking long after you have put it down.
June 1, 2022
‘Quondam: Travel in a Once World’ has many levels for the reader. The book is extremely readable with descriptions of starlit skies, wadis, the river Nile, the Valley of the Kings, myriads of colourful birds, tropical rainforests and mountains as well as plain stretches of desert, all very evocative. However it is the descriptions of people and their circumstances that really stand out, and their changes that John Devoy experiences on his journey from Cairo to Nairobi. John is lucky because he had the courage and fortitude, at 28yrs of age, to embark on such a journey, beginning on New Year’s Day 1986. There were times he had to use a ferry, or a lift on a lorry or bus and even a flight from Khartoum to Juba due to the civil war conflict in the then south of Sudan But this is a very real story of a bike ride in challenging situations, be that a desert track or sleeping under stars or moving fast through the Ituri jungle on a truck at night! I am tempted to use foolhardy to describe his journey but that would be belittling the achievement and this reminiscent account based on his diary and passage of time wisdom. Devoy is also very lucky to have survived given that he succumbed to hepatitis and cerebral malaria. He made his recovery from the latter (his “sunstroke”!) under the care of the Irish Medical Missionaries of Mary in Kitovo Hospital, Masaka.
One thing that also struck me in this book is John’s realisation of his Irishness and linking it to historical events which has given him the ability to distinguish and indeed describe national characteristics of the variety of the people he encountered – none more than the eventual bifurcation of the once largest country in Africa, Sudan. The journey took place 36 years ago and shows how fortunate we are today in terms of communication, for example the shock and sadness that John experienced in eventually collecting telegrams from the Irish Embassy in Nairobi is poignant: his father died two months before he knew, and J, his girlfriend, who was to join him in Nairobi, was seriously ill and could not travel. With support he came to terms with all of this and was persuaded to continue onwards travel to Madagascar and eventually CapeTown.
John Short
One thing that also struck me in this book is John’s realisation of his Irishness and linking it to historical events which has given him the ability to distinguish and indeed describe national characteristics of the variety of the people he encountered – none more than the eventual bifurcation of the once largest country in Africa, Sudan. The journey took place 36 years ago and shows how fortunate we are today in terms of communication, for example the shock and sadness that John experienced in eventually collecting telegrams from the Irish Embassy in Nairobi is poignant: his father died two months before he knew, and J, his girlfriend, who was to join him in Nairobi, was seriously ill and could not travel. With support he came to terms with all of this and was persuaded to continue onwards travel to Madagascar and eventually CapeTown.
John Short
January 22, 2021
Beautifully written account of a trip from Cairo to Nairobi in the mid-80s, ostensibly by bike, but with rail, boat, plane and walking sections all part of the odyssey. It was part of a longer journey between Cork and Cape Town. This is no standard recounting of a bike journey and I’ve read a lot. What’s notable is the 30 year passing between the journey itself and the writing of this book. The levels of detail and recall in the book are such that the author must have kept contemporaneous diaries and/or has an extraordinary memory. The author’s obvious care for his bike and descriptions of repairing it are endearing, but he stresses at various points throughout the book that the bike was his means of travel. It wasn’t a mere bike tour/trip per se, but a journey undertaken by bike primarily and alone, as that facilitated full immersion in the countries and cultures he travelled through. I can identify with that, as some of my most enjoyable bike tours have been alone. But I’ve only gone for days, not months or years as the author did! It is obvious that the world has changed a lot in that 30 years - no Internet, mobile phones, etc. And part of the author’s rationale for going away was to get away from it all and immerse himself fully in these amazing experiences that he describes so evocatively. He writes of sending and receiving letters from friends and family at home at infrequent intervals but that was it - there were no daily check-ins or phone calls. He does pat himself on the back a few times in the book for undergoing such a difficult trip in pre-Internet times. He’s right, but maybe travellers nowadays can still find meaning and adventure in today’s connected world. His experiences were certainly far from a walk in the park, including dangerous border crossings, harsh terrain, serious illness and personal loss. The book conveys really well the whole gamut of emotions experienced given the various travails he endures. This review can’t do it justice, and this reviewer for one can’t wait for the next installment. Brilliant book – highly recommended
December 4, 2020
John Devoy possesses a talent to turn printed words on a page into a living visual experience in my mind. His writing style drew me in and held me captive to the last sentence of Quondam. My expectations of a good bicycle touring book is one filled with adventure, struggles, victories, and transformative experiences. It was indeed that but much more.
“There, a pearl is formed for the future, out of a billion bit of the seen and unseen stuff of one’s passing.” John Devoy in Quondam
The above sentence is my favorite take-away from Quondam. As an avid Kindle e-book reader, I highlight passages in a book that are my takeaway lessons. They usually number 2 or 3. Quondam left me with 12 takeaways that I continue to digest. That number speaks to the value of this book in my eyes.
John Devoy fully immersed himself in the culture on his travels through 1985 Africa. It was a time without GPS, iPhones, and Google Maps. His travels through barren deserts at the speed of a bike led to many extraordinary cultural interactions with the people along the way.
An interesting twist in this book is that Devoy chronicled his 1985 adventure in journal entries and photographs which he turned into this recently published book. He used a then-and-now perspective to give insight into the instability, exploitation, progress, and non-progress of African nations and people over the years.
Here is another favorite takeaway to think about. “…that often we travel for reasons that we do not fully know, but often the reason is of no consequence. The process of traveling moves us beyond reasons.” John Devoy in Quondam
I highly recommend this book for those looking for a story filled with adventure, intimate cultural immersion, personal reflection, and transformation. Add to that a strong drive to move forward in creative ways no matter what obstacles are present.
“There, a pearl is formed for the future, out of a billion bit of the seen and unseen stuff of one’s passing.” John Devoy in Quondam
The above sentence is my favorite take-away from Quondam. As an avid Kindle e-book reader, I highlight passages in a book that are my takeaway lessons. They usually number 2 or 3. Quondam left me with 12 takeaways that I continue to digest. That number speaks to the value of this book in my eyes.
John Devoy fully immersed himself in the culture on his travels through 1985 Africa. It was a time without GPS, iPhones, and Google Maps. His travels through barren deserts at the speed of a bike led to many extraordinary cultural interactions with the people along the way.
An interesting twist in this book is that Devoy chronicled his 1985 adventure in journal entries and photographs which he turned into this recently published book. He used a then-and-now perspective to give insight into the instability, exploitation, progress, and non-progress of African nations and people over the years.
Here is another favorite takeaway to think about. “…that often we travel for reasons that we do not fully know, but often the reason is of no consequence. The process of traveling moves us beyond reasons.” John Devoy in Quondam
I highly recommend this book for those looking for a story filled with adventure, intimate cultural immersion, personal reflection, and transformation. Add to that a strong drive to move forward in creative ways no matter what obstacles are present.
April 22, 2020
“Sometimes long solo travelling is crazy it breaks you up, overflows you cuts into you, mirrors you to you and slowly shatters the conceived and preconceived notions of your age and time. It can make it damn difficult to ever go back to the ‘life’ you knew. It can be a one-way ticket and often is, but I knew nothing of that then.”
- from “Quondam”
John Devoy, to me, has to be the most underrated but hopefully soon to be widely appreciated Irish travel writers alive. I’ve laughed, I was touched but most of all I loved his wonderful way with words and completely original take on what it means to travel. The style is exquisite.
All I can say, if someone asked me if I only could give one book to today’s travellers, those who prefer to travel with an open mind, instead of ticking boxes on a ‘must see list’ and their phones at the ready wherever they go, it would unquestionably be Quondam. Where do I begin to describe Devoy’s eloquent, honest and witty style of writing? The breathtaking ‘stories within a larger story’ contained in every page?
Simply put, the writing is just sheer elegance and this book is something you don’t want to miss. We are all inundated with books but you must read this damn thing now!
- from “Quondam”
John Devoy, to me, has to be the most underrated but hopefully soon to be widely appreciated Irish travel writers alive. I’ve laughed, I was touched but most of all I loved his wonderful way with words and completely original take on what it means to travel. The style is exquisite.
All I can say, if someone asked me if I only could give one book to today’s travellers, those who prefer to travel with an open mind, instead of ticking boxes on a ‘must see list’ and their phones at the ready wherever they go, it would unquestionably be Quondam. Where do I begin to describe Devoy’s eloquent, honest and witty style of writing? The breathtaking ‘stories within a larger story’ contained in every page?
Simply put, the writing is just sheer elegance and this book is something you don’t want to miss. We are all inundated with books but you must read this damn thing now!
Read
April 4, 2020I have read only a few travel books in my time, but maybe any book that is about life and our journey through it, is a travel book of sorts. We humans are all travelers; look at the way the human body is built, with the legs being such a big part of it, and internally, the curiosity of mind the drives us beyond the familiar to find even more problems to confront in this life that we travel in.
John Devoy offers us a panoramic view of his travels, that took place more than 30 years ago when he set off on his bike from Ireland to cycle to Nordcap in Norway, down through Europe and the Middle East to follow the meandering Nile down Africa and into the Congo, and from there to Nairobi in Kenya. In his travels he is following the course of human development towards its source; the landscape here is full of humanity mostly at its best and occasionally at its worst, as experienced by other previous travelers, like Stanley and Livingstone; Casement and Conrad who both played their part in exposing humanity's Heart of Darkness from which we humans all emerged and occasionally revisit either to heal or to explore in its fascinating beauty, and its horror. Read this book.
John Devoy offers us a panoramic view of his travels, that took place more than 30 years ago when he set off on his bike from Ireland to cycle to Nordcap in Norway, down through Europe and the Middle East to follow the meandering Nile down Africa and into the Congo, and from there to Nairobi in Kenya. In his travels he is following the course of human development towards its source; the landscape here is full of humanity mostly at its best and occasionally at its worst, as experienced by other previous travelers, like Stanley and Livingstone; Casement and Conrad who both played their part in exposing humanity's Heart of Darkness from which we humans all emerged and occasionally revisit either to heal or to explore in its fascinating beauty, and its horror. Read this book.
June 25, 2021
I was sent this book by a friend with a kindred spirit for adventure after I had completed a comparatively much, much shorter adventure by bike. He felt that I needed to immerse myself in John's tale, and boy was he right.
For anyone who has felt a tug on the heartstrings to venture beyond the realm of their own bubble and see what lies beyond, John gives an incredibly fascinating account of what he encountered over 2 years in the 1980's. In a pre-tech era, there was no grid to be on. Just try and imagine that today! This book captivated me, and during a particularly difficult winter where we were not allowed to travel more than 5kms from home, I travelled every time I picked this up. It is told in such a way that it felt like a vivid dream. This book will make you think about the world in which we inhabit, how we treat each other and you will find yourself reevaluating as to whether you are really as generous or hospitable as you may have thought.
Quondam is for the adventurer. Written beautifully and thought provoking! I have bought 4 more copies now to pay it forward to more kindred spirits. Thank you, John. Your tale is a real gift to the world!
For anyone who has felt a tug on the heartstrings to venture beyond the realm of their own bubble and see what lies beyond, John gives an incredibly fascinating account of what he encountered over 2 years in the 1980's. In a pre-tech era, there was no grid to be on. Just try and imagine that today! This book captivated me, and during a particularly difficult winter where we were not allowed to travel more than 5kms from home, I travelled every time I picked this up. It is told in such a way that it felt like a vivid dream. This book will make you think about the world in which we inhabit, how we treat each other and you will find yourself reevaluating as to whether you are really as generous or hospitable as you may have thought.
Quondam is for the adventurer. Written beautifully and thought provoking! I have bought 4 more copies now to pay it forward to more kindred spirits. Thank you, John. Your tale is a real gift to the world!
November 15, 2021
'Quondam' is the sort of book that stays with you, long after you have read it.
'Travels in a once world' is written on the front cover and this excited me. I wanted to travel through Africa with the writer, I yearned to meet the people, taste the food, and take in the scenery. This I managed to do, quite enjoyably, but what I had not anticipated quite as much was the other journey author John Devoy was on, the journey of coming to know and live with himself.
I recently moved from Ireland to the UK and John's technique of describing the feeling of physically being somewhere, yet mentally still trying to catch up, was something I had been struggling to do. His words struck a chord with me, they stayed with me.
Devoy has a talent for saying so much, by what he leaves out. He gives the reader space to think, to come to their own conclusions, something I really enjoyed.
This is an honest book, jam packed with anecdotal failures and vulnerabilities, yet with lots of funny and entertaining stories along the way too, striking just the right balance.
I would highly recommend 'Quondam' - it works great for a book club too!
'Travels in a once world' is written on the front cover and this excited me. I wanted to travel through Africa with the writer, I yearned to meet the people, taste the food, and take in the scenery. This I managed to do, quite enjoyably, but what I had not anticipated quite as much was the other journey author John Devoy was on, the journey of coming to know and live with himself.
I recently moved from Ireland to the UK and John's technique of describing the feeling of physically being somewhere, yet mentally still trying to catch up, was something I had been struggling to do. His words struck a chord with me, they stayed with me.
Devoy has a talent for saying so much, by what he leaves out. He gives the reader space to think, to come to their own conclusions, something I really enjoyed.
This is an honest book, jam packed with anecdotal failures and vulnerabilities, yet with lots of funny and entertaining stories along the way too, striking just the right balance.
I would highly recommend 'Quondam' - it works great for a book club too!
June 10, 2023
Time is a valuable commodity. Yet, I would highly recommend you give some of your time to this thoroughly engaging tale of travel by John Devoy. This is the tale of a mammoth trip to Egypt, Sudan and beyond by bicycle in the 1980’s. Of course it’s so much more than that.
The kindness of our fellow man, which John encounters very frequently, is front and centre in this plot. Moments, which are a tonic for the negative headlines we often see attributed to these regions. In many ways it is a spiritual journey. One man parachuting himself into the elements of the world and letting it unfold without resistance. This is how the magic appears. John encounters new landscapes, tastes and sounds as well as personal loss and near death. In essence, on this journey John experiences the full spectrum of life.
Luckily for us his skill with the pen is as proficient as his biking prowess. There are descriptive passages which embrace all the senses. As such, they bring to life a now bygone world, which John experienced, during that momentous journey in 1980’s Africa. So, buckle in and enjoy a truly special journey. You won’t be disappointed.
The kindness of our fellow man, which John encounters very frequently, is front and centre in this plot. Moments, which are a tonic for the negative headlines we often see attributed to these regions. In many ways it is a spiritual journey. One man parachuting himself into the elements of the world and letting it unfold without resistance. This is how the magic appears. John encounters new landscapes, tastes and sounds as well as personal loss and near death. In essence, on this journey John experiences the full spectrum of life.
Luckily for us his skill with the pen is as proficient as his biking prowess. There are descriptive passages which embrace all the senses. As such, they bring to life a now bygone world, which John experienced, during that momentous journey in 1980’s Africa. So, buckle in and enjoy a truly special journey. You won’t be disappointed.
February 21, 2024
This book is a very personal and human travel story. John Devoy's focus both in the story and in the book is on the relationships and the people he met. John has a natural ability to engage with and empathise with the people he meets and there is huge emphasis on the hospitality and generosity he received often from people who had very little material wealth. And unlike many travellers John tries every food and drink put in front of him, showing great respect for local custom and hospitality.
One leaves this book with a very intense picture of the Africa of that time and in particular the huge challenges John faced, and overcame, to visit some places not often visited or even seen by a European.
The book also gives insights into the world of the mid-80s and how much the world has changed. There is a nostalgia in the book for that time and a sense of what we have lost. The journey described probably could not take place now and the close nature of John's interactions with people might not be even possible now.
If you have never been to Africa this book will give you some rich and affectionate insights. If you have been to Africa you will relate deeply to the story.
One leaves this book with a very intense picture of the Africa of that time and in particular the huge challenges John faced, and overcame, to visit some places not often visited or even seen by a European.
The book also gives insights into the world of the mid-80s and how much the world has changed. There is a nostalgia in the book for that time and a sense of what we have lost. The journey described probably could not take place now and the close nature of John's interactions with people might not be even possible now.
If you have never been to Africa this book will give you some rich and affectionate insights. If you have been to Africa you will relate deeply to the story.
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