Behind God's Back

by Negley Farson

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

568 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

At one time considered one of North America’s most intrepid journalists, Farson is probably little known today to most readers under the age of 50. Farson was raised by his eccentric grandfather, the notorious Civil War General James Negley who ‘made other men look like mongrel dogs.’ With such a colourful family background, it should have come as no surprise that young Negley was not only expelled from college but immediately emigrated on to England.

The excitement of the First World War soon lured him even further afield. The young student, now turned journalist, soon showed up in Russia and was present in Red Square the day the Bolshevik Revolution broke out. Farson went on to become one of the most renowned foreign correspondents of his day. He covered a host of varied and exciting world events including interviewing Gandhi in India, witnessing bank-robber John Dillinger’s naked body in the morgue just after he had been shot down by Hoover’s men, and meeting Hitler, who described Farson’s small blond son, Daniel, as a “good Aryan boy.”
A renowned fly-fisherman, Farson’s private life was just as turbulent as his journalism career. He partied with F. Scott Fitzgerald and supposedly out-drank Ernest Hemingway

Reviews

[Brad Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book on multiple levels. Set just before and at the outset of WWII, Negley examines Germans he encountered across Africa. He also examines the various forms of colonialism across the continent and his own position comes out as well and is troubling. Still, quite the travelogue and examination.

[Rex Gretton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look into two things.
1 - Africa at a period before WW2, the state of mind of the residents in different areas and the changes in the country itself.

2 - I felt that Farson himself was at a bit of a crossroads, wanting at times to continue the "hunt" of wild animals, but appeared a little confused as to which animals he would kill. That's probably the wrong terminology, but I thought it was something along those lines.

But a very interesting read. I enjoyed the travel parts, and the challenges that he faced. And found the look behind the scenes in to that amazing Nation very interesting.