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Borneo and the Poet
When Redmond O'Hanlon set out to rediscover the lost rhinoceros of Borneo, accompanied by the poet James Fenton, it was in the best tradition of nineteenth-century exploration. They were armed with backbreaking kit suitable to surviving two months in a steaming jungle of creeping, crawling and biting things; their heads brimmed with training provided by the SAS; and O'Hanlon himself had an encyclopedic knowledge of the region's flora and fauna. And yet they proceeded to have an adventure that neither O'Hanlon, his poet friend nor his guides were quite prepared for.
- GenresTravelNonfiction
55 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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About the author
Redmond O'Hanlon
33 books117 followersRedmond O'Hanlon is a British author, born in 1947. Mr. O'Hanlon has become known for his journeys into some of the most remote jungles of the world, in Borneo, the Amazon basin and Congo. He has also written a harrowing account of a trip to the North Atlantic on a trawler.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 21, 2022
An extract from Into the Heart of Borneo. The original book was a quest to find a rare animal. On the expedition was a naturalist (the author) and an English poet. So this extract described the biotic challenges of the region, a river journey to the centre of the island and a party with one group of locals where there was an exchange of talent demonstrations. The poet ad libbed some poetry regarding the trip and warm reception.
From what I can gather, this story extract was made (along with those in the series) to provide some quality reading on a short-ish train ride. It served its purpose I suppose. 2.5 star rating rounded up.
From what I can gather, this story extract was made (along with those in the series) to provide some quality reading on a short-ish train ride. It served its purpose I suppose. 2.5 star rating rounded up.
July 27, 2020
I bought handful of the Penguin at 70 years booklets in 2005 and I believe I have not opened any of them since. This book by Redmond O'Hanlon, an excerpt from "Into the heart of Borneo" tells some of the story of explorer and naturalist O'Hanlon's journey in Borneo. I had never heard of the author or of his companion, the poet, James Fenton but I am keen to read more of their adventures through inhospitable lands.
O'Hanlon writes beautifully, and these 55 pages were, I hope, a wonderful introduction to his work.
O'Hanlon writes beautifully, and these 55 pages were, I hope, a wonderful introduction to his work.
March 1, 2022
Little ripper of a read, adventurer and poet take a boat ride up the river in Borneo with some native guides, adventures ensue. Very English, but in the good way. Jolly good show.
August 18, 2007
A story of a poet volunteering in SAS expedition to Borneo narrated by who is an academic and a natural-history-book reviewer. No,..not the SAS Software! [http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98...] :-)
The story is full of details on how to survive in the tropical jungle. Some of the descriptions of the sceneries are very good. It reminds me of Ray Mears' Bushcraft TV programme. While reading it I reminisce my childhood in Indonesia: its humidity, the flowing waters in its rivers, the smell of the woods, different types of insects, etc. Living far far away from makes me appreciate it more.
A better research would have helped with the accuracy of the Indonesian words used in the story. Eat = makan. One = satu.
The story is full of details on how to survive in the tropical jungle. Some of the descriptions of the sceneries are very good. It reminds me of Ray Mears' Bushcraft TV programme. While reading it I reminisce my childhood in Indonesia: its humidity, the flowing waters in its rivers, the smell of the woods, different types of insects, etc. Living far far away from makes me appreciate it more.
A better research would have helped with the accuracy of the Indonesian words used in the story. Eat = makan. One = satu.
April 17, 2016
This Penguin 70 contains a number of excerpts from Into the Heart of Borneo, Redmond O'Hanlon's excellent book about his journey, with poet James Fenton, up a river in Borneo.
The excerpts are entertaining enough, although if I were making selections they would have been different to these.
Without prior knowledge of the full book, I would expect it is still an entertaining enough way to spend a hour or two, as the writing is good, and there is sufficient context to understand what is going on, but it is not really a substitute for the whole book.
The excerpts are entertaining enough, although if I were making selections they would have been different to these.
Without prior knowledge of the full book, I would expect it is still an entertaining enough way to spend a hour or two, as the writing is good, and there is sufficient context to understand what is going on, but it is not really a substitute for the whole book.
August 2, 2011
A nice little read a bit like something out of Hotspur comic which I used to read as a kid.
July 27, 2011
A pleasant autobiographical story of how the author set off to explore Borneo with a poet named James Fenton, and some of the things they saw there.
June 24, 2014
Yeah wouldn't ever read this again, it's not awful, but I didn't care about any of the characters and wasn't engaged at all while reading it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews