The Race for Timbuktu : The Story of Gordon Laing and the Race

In the first decades of the nineteenth century, no place burned more brightly in the imagination of European geographersand fortune huntersthan the lost city of Timbuktu. Africa's legendary City of Gold, not visited by Europeans since the Middle Ages, held the promise of wealth and fame for the first explorer to make it there. In 1824, the French Geographical Society offered a cash prize to the first expedition from any nation to visit Timbuktu and return to tell the tale. One of the contenders was Major Alexander Gordon Laing, a thirtyyearold army officer. Handsome and confident, Laing was convinced that Timbuktu was his destiny, and his ticket to glory. In July 1825, after a whirlwind romance with Emma Warrington, daughter of the British consul at Tripoli, Laing left the Mediterranean coast to cross the Sahara. His 2,000mile journey took on an added urgency when Hugh Clapperton, a more experienced explorer, set out to beat him. Apprised of each other's mission by overseers in London who hoped the two would cooperate, Clapperton instead became Laing's rival, spurring him on across a hostile wilderness. An emotionally charged, actionpacked, utterly gripping read, The Race for Timbuktu offers a close, personal look at the extraordinary people and pivotal events of nineteenthcentury African exploration that changed the course of history and the shape of the modern world. From Publishers WeeklyKryza recreates the bold journeys through the unknown Africa of early 19th-century British explorers Alexander Gordon Laing and Hugh Clapperton, competing to find the fabled city of Timbuktu. Kryza's meticulous research of letters, diaries and official records forms the basis for affecting descriptions of the hazards and horrors the two explorers faced. Kryza, who lived in Africa for 11 years and traveled Laing's route, writes evocatively of the beauty of the African landscape and provides chilling glimpses of the barbarism of the slave trade. He also exposes the unbridgeable cultural gap between 19th-century Muslims in North Africa and the Christian explorers. But what most impresses are the sheer number of ways there were to die in Africa, known as the "White Man's grave"malaria, dysentery, drowning, parasitic infections and heat stroke were a few of the natural threats, which paled beside the likelihood of being killed by fellow travelers, slavers, bandits or capricious rulers. Kryza (__The Power of Light__) starts slowly, but when the focus settles on Laing and Clapperton, readers will be eager to find out their fates. 20 b&w illus. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistTimbuktu is in the center of Mali on the southern edge of the Sahara. In the first two decades of the nineteenth century, it held the promise of wealth and fame for the first explorer to make it there and back alive. As Kryza sees it, Timbuktu assumed the quality of a mythic dream, a city paved in gold. He chronicles the 2,000-mile journey of Major Alexander Gordon Laing, an army officer with the Royal Africa Corps, in 1825. The trip across the Sahara from Tripoli to Timbuktu took more than a year, Laing's caravan facing suffocating heat and foul-smelling food. Distances were measured in days, never in miles, and at night he and his men wrapped themselves in blankets and slept on the sand. Laing was the first European to visit Timbuktu and was received by its governor in a small mud house, and Kryza himself spent 11 years in Africa traveling much of this route. His narration of Laing's perilous journey is electrifying. __George Cohen____Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved__ In the first decades of the nineteenth century, no place burned more brightly in the imagination of European geographersand fortune huntersthan the lost city of Timbuktu. Africa's legendary City of Gold, not visited by Europeans since the Middle Ages, held the promise of wealth and fame for the first explorer to make it there. In 1824, the French Geographical Society offered a cash prize to the first expedition from any nation to visit Timbuktu and return to tell the tale. One of the contenders was Major Alexander Gordon Laing, a thirtyyearold army officer. Handsome and confident, Laing was convinced that Timbuktu was his destiny, and his ticket to glory. In July 1825, after a whirlwind romance with Emma Warrington, daughter of the British consul at Tripoli, Laing left the Mediterranean coast to cross the Sahara. His 2,000mile journey took on an added urgency when Hugh Clapperton, a more experienced explorer, set out to beat him. Apprised of each other's mission by overseers in London who hoped the two would cooperate, Clapperton instead became Laing's rival, spurring him on across a hostile wilderness. An emotionally charged, actionpacked, utterly gripping read, The Race for Timbuktu offers a close, personal look at the extraordinary people and pivotal events of nineteenthcentury African exploration that changed the course of history and the shape of the modern world. From Publishers Weekly Kryza recreates the bold journeys through the unknown Africa of early 19th-century British explorers Alexander Gordon Laing and Hugh Clapperton, competing to find the fabled city of Timbuktu. Kryza's meticulous research of letters, diaries and official records forms the basis for affecting descriptions of the hazards and horrors the two explorers faced. Kryza, who lived in Africa for 11 years and traveled Laing's route, writes evocatively of the beauty of the African landscape and provides chilling glimpses of the barbarism of the slave trade. He also exposes the unbridgeable cultural gap between 19th-century Muslims in North Africa and the Christian explorers. But what most impresses are the sheer number of ways there were to die in Africa, known as the "White Man's grave"malaria, dysentery, drowning, parasitic infections and heat stroke were a few of the natural threats, which paled beside the likelihood of being killed by fellow travelers, slavers, bandits or capricious rulers. Kryza ( The Power of Light ) starts slowly, but when the focus settles on Laing and Clapperton, readers will be eager to find out their fates. 20 b&w illus. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Timbuktu is in the center of Mali on the southern edge of the Sahara. In the first two decades of the nineteenth century, it held the promise of wealth and fame for the first explorer to make it there and back alive. As Kryza sees it, Timbuktu assumed the quality of a mythic dream, a city paved in gold. He chronicles the 2,000-mile journey of Major Alexander Gordon Laing, an army officer with the Royal Africa Corps, in 1825. The trip across the Sahara from Tripoli to Timbuktu took more than a year, Laing's caravan facing suffocating heat and foul-smelling food. Distances were measured in days, never in miles, and at night he and his men wrapped themselves in blankets and slept on the sand. Laing was the first European to visit Timbuktu and was received by its governor in a small mud house, and Kryza himself spent 11 years in Africa traveling much of this route. His narration of Laing's perilous journey is electrifying. George Cohen Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved In The First Decades Of The Nineteenth Century, No Place Burned More Brightly In The Imagination Of European Geographers - And Fortune Hunters - Than The Lost City Of Timbuktu. Africa's Legendary City Of Gold, Not Visited By Europeans Since The Middle Ages, Held The Promise Of Wealth And Fame For The First Explorer To Make It There. In 1824, The French Geographical Society Offered A Cash Prize To The First Expedition From Any Nation To Visit Timbuktu And Return To Tell The Tale. Unwilling To Trust In The Slender Chances Of A Lone Explorer, The British Sent Several On Their Way. One Of The Contenders Was Major Alexander Gordon Laing, A Thirty-year-old Army Officer. Handsome And Confident, Laing Was Convinced That Timbuktu Was His Destiny, And His Ticket To Glory. In July 1825, After A Whirlwind Romance With Emma Warrington, Daughter Of The British Consul At Tripoli, Laing Left The Mediterranean Coast To Cross The Sahara. His 2,000-mile Journey Took On An Added Urgency When Hugh Clapperton, A More Experienced Explorer, Set Out To Beat Him. Apprised Of Each Other's Mission By Overseers In London Who Hoped The Two Would Cooperate, Clapperton Instead Became Laing's Rival, Spurring Him On Across A Hostile Wilderness. Drawing On Laing's Dynamic Correspondence, Including Passionate Letters To His Beloved Emma And Gossip-laden Official Reports, The Race For Timbuktu Follows Laing's Arduous Trek Across An Unforgiving Sahara, Battling Unpredictable Elements, Crippling Illness, Vicious Attacks - And The Clock - To Be The First White Man In Centuries To Reach The Gates Of Timbuktu. In Bringing Laing's Dramatic Story To Life, Frank T. Kryza Also Provides A Narrative History Of The First Phase Of The Colonization Of Africa, Which In Less Than A Century Would See Nearly Every Square Mile Of The Continent Occupied By The Nations Of Europe. The Race For Timbuktu Offers A Close, Personal Look At The Extraordinary People And Pivotal Events Of Nineteenth-century African Exploration That Changed The Course Of History And The Shape Of The Modern World.--jacket. A Scotsman At Tripoli -- The African Association -- A Wedding In The English Garden -- White Man's Grave -- The African Traveler -- The Tripoli Route -- Hugh Clapperton -- The Journey To Bornu -- Undiscovered Empires -- The Race Begins -- Over The Rim Of The World -- Clapperton Catches Up -- The Ivory Miniature -- The Widow Zuma -- Treachery In The Tanexrouft -- Troubles For Captain Clapperton -- The City Of Legend -- The Long Silence -- The Lost Papers -- The Mystery Solved. Frank T. Kryza. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [305]-308) And Index.

In the first decades of the nineteenth century, no place burned more brightly in the imagination of European geographers––and fortune hunters––than the lost city of Timbuktu. Africa's legendary City of Gold, not visited by Europeans since the Middle Ages, held the promise of wealth and fame for the first explorer to make it there. In 1824, the French Geographical Society offered a cash prize to the first expedition from any nation to visit Timbuktu and return to tell the tale.

One of the contenders was Major Alexander Gordon Laing, a thirty–year–old army officer. Handsome and confident, Laing was convinced that Timbuktu was his destiny, and his ticket to glory. In July 1825, after a whirlwind romance with Emma Warrington, daughter of the British consul at Tripoli, Laing left the Mediterranean coast to cross the Sahara. His 2,000–mile journey took on an added urgency when Hugh Clapperton, a more experienced explorer, set out to beat him. Apprised of each other's mission by overseers in London who hoped the two would cooperate, Clapperton instead became Laing's rival, spurring him on across a hostile wilderness.

An emotionally charged, action–packed, utterly gripping read, The Race for Timbuktu offers a close, personal look at the extraordinary people and pivotal events of nineteenth–century African exploration that changed the course of history and the shape of the modern world.

The Washington Post - Jonathan Yardley

…a lively and informative, if somewhat disorganized, history by a former newspaper reporter and energy specialist. Kryza has spent a lot of time in Africa (he first went there in 1963, when he was in junior high school) and knows it well; he also obviously has spent a lot of time in libraries, researching the copious literature of African exploration. The race to Timbuktu he describes seems more a storytelling device than a matter of historical fact, and he does a good deal of hemming and hawing before finally bringing Laing onto center stage, but these narrative shortcomings can be forgiven.

Chronicles the true story of Major Alexander Gordon Laing and the race to discover Timbuktu during the early part of the nineteenth century, an era when the African continent was still largely uncharted.