Esther Warner Dendel (1910–2002)

This is a memoir of a time in Liberia. I'm at a loss to explain why this book seems to have fallen into obscurity. Many years ago I read a book by Graham Greene, a memoir too as I recall, set in Liberia like this one is and it was called Journey Without Maps. The author here even references it within her own narrative. If one has read and enjoyed that book, or something like The Flame Trees of Thika I can't imagine not being interested in this book. However, this is not on the level of Flame show more Trees or Out of Africa or Paula McLain's book on Beryl Markham and other outstanding memoirs of Africa. It is a different sort of book.

The author explains at the start of the book what she is trying to do. The reason she was there was a little bothersome to me - they were collecting chimpanzees for export to a breeding farm in Florida. But that isn't really this story although the chimps play a part. This does give one insight into a time and culture probably gone now (this was written in 1954 but appears to be set in 1943 based on a reference to Sumner Welles). This book will take you to a place and on a journey that will reveal to the reader a different way of thinking about the world and how that world looks at you. It isn't a 'great' book, but it is an interesting one. The book is also filled with woodcut illustrations by the author's husband. show less

tapestry, frame weaving,off-loom weaving

Lending

Alice Knapp