Blood River

<p><b>**THE NUMBER ONE <i>SUNDAY TIMES</i> BESTSELLER**</b><br><b><br>A compulsively readable account of an African country now virtually inaccessible to the outside world and one journalist's daring and adventurous journey.</b><br><br>When war correspondent Tim Butcher was sent to cover Africa in 2000 he quickly became obsessed with the idea of recreating H.M. Stanley's famous nineteenth century trans-Africa expedition - <b>but travelling alone.</b><br><br> Despite warnings that his plan was 'suicidal' Butcher set out for the Congo's eastern border with just a rucksack and a few thousand dollars hidden in his boots. Making his way in an assortment of vessels including a motorbike and a dugout canoe helped along by a cast of unlikely characters he followed in the footsteps of the great Victorian adventurers. <br><br> Butcher's journey was a remarkable feat but the story of the Congo told expertly and vividly in this book is more remarkable still.<br><br><b>&#145;A masterpiece&#146; John Le Carr&#233;</b><br><b><br>&#145;Extraordinary audacious completely enthralling&#146; William Boyd</b><br><b><br>&#145;A remarkable marriage of travelogue and history which deserves to make Tim Butcher a star for his prose as well as his courage&#146; Max Hastings</b></p>