Exciting account of the first recorded European experience with a fable city, the reality and the tragic aftermath...

There was a lot about this book that I found really interesting, but there were also things that I didn't think needed to be included and that really slowed down the narrative. There was so much detail about the lives of some of the explorers (and other random characters) that it really detracted from the story of Timbuktu. I don't care at all who these guys married or what was in the letters between them and their wives, I just want to know about their exploring. And I found it very odd how much was described about Laing and Clapperton yet how little there was about Caillie. I personally would have enjoyed the book more if things were a bit more balanced since I find the actual exploration much more interesting than the personal and romantic lives of explorers. How Caillie can be all but excluded from the story of "the race for Timbuktu" when he literally is the first European to reach the city and return alive to Europe since the middle ages is beyond me. But there were definitely some insanely cool tidbits about Timbuktu and Africa in general at this time. If more had been about this and less about civilians living in Tripoli, I would have given it four stars. My favorite quotes:

"Remarkably, at the time of the first British undertaking to explore the southern fringe of the Sahara (early 1800s), planners in London knew more about the geography of the moon than they did of North and Central Africa."

"It was easier to map the surface of the moon with a telescope in 1829 than to produce a detailed map of Africa."

Great stuff for a place that most people think doesn't really exist.

Spotted on Veeral's profile and I think it looks just my cup of tea
:O)

Asometimes fascinating and occasionally tedious account of a small slice of history during the time Britain and France were vying for dominance in the Sahara. Fascinating are the accounts of young men determined to pass through potentially hostile lands for discovery. Tedious was the descriptions of the politics surrounding those journeys.

I would have given this boo one more star but i was not happy when i realized that this book is not about timbuktu, it mentions it all through the book but never gives you any information about it, therefore i feel the title is a little misleading, the book is about the race between french and english explorers to see who can get to the ancient city first, we also get a glimpse at the geopolitical relationships between both colonial powers and the african powers as represented by both explorers and the interactions they have go through on their way there. If you love a book about exploring ancient cities...this book is for you, if you like books about ancient cities....not so much...

Starts stronger than it finishes, but still a great read for history buffs and those liking stories about explorers willing to take great risks. And often paying the price for doing so.

Timbuktu, the mysterious "lost city" (if a city with 12,00 inhabitants can be lost). Reported to have streets paved with gold and with buildings studded with gems. How could explorers resist looking for it. And that is exactly what Alexander Laing and Hugh Clapperton did. They wanted to be the first European to see the city and return, but like many before them they did not make it back. The book is the story of them and others attempting to find Timbuktu. Stories of adventure, endurance, deprivation, with lots of political and religious turmoil to spice things up. There is even a classic love story. Marvellous book, well researched, tons of interesting information.

okay. initially a good story. end is rambling!

Insightful book without being too academic. Great book even if you aren't familiar with any history of African exploration.

Well-researched, and with surprisingly cohesive and descriptive prose for a non-professional author. Mr Kryza brings a wealth of first hand experience and empathy to his task and does an admirable job presenting the facts, such as are known or knowable, within the context of the often overlooked early period of British African exploration, both foreshadowing and informing the imperial age to follow generations later. Definitely worthwhile.

Good book. Well-balanced, fast moving narrative.