Facing the Congo: A Modern-Day Journey Into the Heart of Darkness

Faced with an identity crisis in his work and his life, seasoned traveler and journalist Jeffrey Tayler made a bold decision. He would leave behind his mundane existence in Moscow to re-create the legendary British explorer Henry Stanley's trip down the Congo in a dugout canoe, stocked with food, medicine, and even a gun-toting guide. But once his tiny boat pushed off the banks of this mysterious river, Tayler realized he was in a place where maps and supplies would have no bearing on his survival. As Tayler navigates this immense waterway, he encounters a land of smothering heat and intense rains, wary villagers, corrupt officials and dead-eyed soldiers demanding bribes, jungle animals, mosquitoes, and, surprisingly, breathtaking natural beauty.

Filled with honesty and rich description, Facing the Congo is a sophisticated depiction of today's Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country brought to its knees by a succession of despotic leaders. But most mportant, Tayler's stunning narrative is a deeply satisfying personal journey of fear and awakening, with a message that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt compelled, whether in life or in fantasy, to truly explore and experience our world.

Author: Jeffrey Tayler
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
Published: 10/09/2001
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.09h x 5.17w x 0.66d
ISBN13: 9780609808269
ISBN10: 0609808265
BISAC Categories:
- Travel | Essays & Travelogues
- Travel | Africa | Central

About the Author
JEFFREY TAYLER is the author of Siberian Dawn: A Journey Across the New Russia. He writes for Condé Nast Traveler, Spin, Harper's, and other publications and is a commentator on NPR's All Things Considered. Two of his essays appear in the inaugural edition of The Best American Travel Writing. He lives in Russia.