Official Review: My Passage to Africa by Brian C Rushton

[bookworm1990]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "My Passage to Africa" by Brian C Rushton.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

"My Passage to Africa" is the autobiographical account of Brian Rushton's travels through Africa from 1971-1974. The author was persuaded to join his two friends, Ed and Len, "to provide financial and physical support" and by their warning that he'd "regret it for the rest of his life" if he passed up this once in a lifetime opportunity. To reach their final destination of Rhodesia, Rushton and his pals began in England and meandered through France, Spain, South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique. Once arrived in the city of Salisbury, Rushton began work at the local Fire and Ambulance Service putting previous experience to good use in a department that lacked up-to-date resources. After several years living abroad Rushton began to long for the "television progammes, proper football matches, pubs, family and friends" of home and returned to England.

The purpose of the book is to recount stories that address the "hopes, fears, experiences and mistakes" of the author and his friends on their journey. Additionally, while in Africa Rushton experienced a "lost world in another era" including "living with servants". At the time, Africans were socially, economically and politically discriminated against by white "Europeans". At the fire brigade Rushton learned that Africans received drastically unequal pay, cultural segregation and higher costs for fire and ambulatory services.

Rushton's manner is conversational and concise. At a mere 102 pages (including approximately 25 pages of personal photographs) events flow quickly from one to the next at a comfortable pace. Descriptive passages of the landscape are minimal, however, the "first streaks of light" of a new day, "the white cliffs...on the horizon" as their boat departs from Britain and the Salisbury streets lined with "masses of mauve blossoms" reveal the author's affection for the featured locations.

This sentimentality also applies to passages involving the people he encountered including Peter and Georgina, who they ran into while en route to and living in Rhodesia, Kenneth, a gardener whose grasp on English was iffy, and Martin, a local sports club owner.

I give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. I found the book charming and enjoyed learning about a unique time and place from such an approachable author. The quickness of the book was unfortunate because scenes and people were not made whole in the minimal descriptions. The inclusion of photos was helpful to ground me in the foreign world of 1970s Africa, however, I wish Rushton had reminisced more and painted the scene in words. This book is a great quick travel memoir written by a capable and personable adventurer.

******
My Passage to Africa
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords

Like bookworm1990's review? Post a comment saying so!

[brianandjill]

Thank-you for your very fair review, bookworm1990. I accept your criticism that I should have been more descriptive, but I feared that the reader might become impatient with my self-indulgence, had I lingered with my descriptions of people and landscapes.
Incidentally, the black Africans were indeed discriminated against financially but I should correct your misconception that they paid more than white people for the emergency services. In fact, they were only charged a token fee for their ambulance journey, whereas their white compatriots had to pay per MILE for the entire round trip. Considerably more.
I was relieved and heartened that you enjoyed the book and that you received an insight into the terminal days of our colonial history. Thanks again. Brian.

-- 05 Dec 2015, 13:07 --

Thank-you for your very fair review, bookworm1990. I accept your criticism that I should have been more descriptive, but I feared that the reader might become impatient with my self-indulgence, had I lingered with my descriptions of people and landscapes.
Incidentally, the black Africans were indeed discriminated against financially but I should correct your misconception that they paid more than white people for the emergency services. In fact, they were only charged a token fee for their ambulance journey, whereas their white compatriots had to pay per MILE for the entire round trip. Considerably more.
I was relieved and heartened that you enjoyed the book and that you received an insight into the terminal days of our colonial history. Thanks again. Brian.

[bookworm1990]

I apologize for the inaccuracy Brian. I re read the passage and I'm sorry for misreading initially.