âEngrossing, beautiful, and deeply imaginativeâ (Yaa Gyasi, author of Homegoing), this epic novel about the explorer David Livingstone and the extraordinary group of Africans who carry his body across impossible terrain âilluminates the agonies of colonialism and blind loyaltyâ (O, The Oprah Magazine).
âThis is how we carried out of Africa the poor broken body of...David Livingstone, so that he could be borne across the sea and buried in his own land.â
So begins Petina Gappahâs âsearingâŠpoignantâ (Star Tribune, Minneapolis) novel of exploration and adventure in 19th-century Africaâthe captivating story of the African men and women who carried explorer and missionary Dr. Livingstoneâs body, papers, and maps, fifteen hundred miles across the continent of Africa, so his remains could be returned home to England and his work preserved there. Narrated by Halima, the doctorâs sharp-tongued cook, and Jacob Wainwright, his rigidly pious secretary, this is a âpowerful novel, beautifully toldâ (Jesmyn Ward, author of Sing, Unburied, Sing) that encompasses all of the hypocrisy of slavery and colonizationâthe hypocrisy of humanityâwhile celebrating resilience, loyalty, and love.