Contains Active Table of Contents (HTML) and in the end of book include a bonus link to the free audiobook.Heart of Darkness is a novella written by Polish-born writer Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski). Before its 1902 publication, it appeared as a three-part series (1899) in Blackwood's Magazine. It is widely regarded as a significant work of English literature and part of the Western canon.This highly symbolic story is actually a story within a story, or frame narrative. It follows Marlow as he recounts, from dusk through to late night, his adventure into the Congo to a group of men aboard a ship anchored in the Thames Estuary.The story details an incident when Marlow, an Englishman, took a foreign assignment as a ferry-boat captain, employed by a Belgian trading company. Although the river is never specifically named, readers may assume it is the Congo River, in the Congo Free State, a private colony of King Leopold II. Marlow is employed to transport ivory downriver; however, his more pressing assignment is to return Kurtz, another ivory trader, to civilization in a cover up. Kurtz has a reputation throughout the region.Aboard the Nellie, anchored in the River Thames near Gravesend, Charles Marlow tells his fellow sailors about the events that led to his appointment as captain of a river steamboat for an ivory trading company. As a child, Marlow had been fascinated by "the blank spaces" on maps, particularly by the biggest, which by the time he had grown up was no longer blank but turned into "a place of darkness" (Conrad 10). Yet there remained a big river, "resembling an immense snake uncoiled, with its head in the sea, its body at rest curving afar over a vast country and its tail lost in the depths of the land" (Conrad 10). The image of this river on the map fascinated Marlow "as a snake would a bird" (Conrad 10). Feeling as though "instead of going to the centre of a continent I were about to set off for the centre of the earth", Marlow takes passage on a French steamer bound for the African coast and then into the interior (Conrad 18). After more than thirty days the ship anchors off the seat of government near the mouth of the big river. Marlow, with still some two hundred miles to go, takes passage on a little sea-going steamer captained by a Swede. He departs some thirty miles up the river where his company's station is. Work on the railway is going on, involving removal of rocks with explosives. Marlow enters a narrow ravine to stroll in the shade under the trees, and finds himself in "the gloomy circle of some Inferno": the place is full of diseased Africans who worked on the railroad and now await their deaths, their sickened bodies already as thin as air (Conrad 24–25). Marlow witnesses the scene "horror-struck" (Conrad 26). Read more

"Funny, sweet, utterly heart-wrenching." —Entertainment WeeklyThe New York Times bestseller from the critically acclaimed author of MosquitolandVictor Benucci and Madeline Falco have a story to tell. It begins with the death of Vic’s father. It ends with the murder of Mad’s uncle. The Hackensack Police Department would very much like to hear it. But in order to tell their story, Vic and Mad must focus on all the chapters in between.   This is a story about:   1. A coded mission to scatter ashes across New Jersey. 2. The momentous nature of the Palisades in winter. 3. One dormant submarine. 4. Two songs about flowers. 5. Being cool in the traditional sense. 6. Sunsets & ice cream & orchards & graveyards. 7. Simultaneous extreme opposites. 8. A narrow escape from a war-torn country. 9. A story collector. 10. How to listen to someone who does not talk. 11. Falling in love with a painting. 12. Falling in love with a song. 13. Falling in love. Read more

**Nominated for the 2022 BookTube Prize in Nonfiction**Anthony Bourdain's long time director and producer takes readers behind the scenes to reveal the insanity of filming television in some of the most volatile places in the world and what it was like to work with a legend. In the nearly two years since Anthony Bourdain's death, no one else has come close to filling the void he left. His passion for and genuine curiosity about the people and cultures he visited made the world feel smaller and more connected. Despite his affable, confident, and trademark snarky TV persona, the real Tony was intensely private, deeply conflicted about his fame, and an enigma even to those close to him. Tony’s devoted crew knew him best, and no one else had a front-row seat for as long as his director and producer, Tom Vitale.Over the course of more than a decade traveling together, Tony became a boss, a friend, a hero and, sometimes, a tormentor.In the Weeds takes readers behind the scenes to reveal not just the insanity that went into filming in some of the most far-flung and volatile parts of the world, but what Tony was like unedited and off-camera. From the outside, the job looked like an all-expenses-paid adventure to places like Borneo, Vietnam, Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Libya. What happened off-camera was far more interesting than what made it to air. The more things went wrong, the better it was for the show. Fortunately, everything fell apart constantly. Read more

Did you know that DR Congo is home to a unique animal called the okapi? It's known as the "forest giraffe" because it looks like a mix between a zebra and a giraffe, but it's only found in DR Congo!If this topic interests you and your little one then get ready for some fun and giggles.It is hard to find the time to teach your child about the world around them. Luckily, in 50 Facts About DR Congo, we've made it easy. Our book contains a diverse selection of the most interesting facts about DR Congo that will provide your child with hours of bonding and exploring.What you will find in our book:High-quality illustrationsInteresting facts about Democratic Republic of the CongoThis book also provides travel tips and places that are useful for your trip, and you will learn all about Democratic Republic of the CongoPerfect for homeschooling, language development and for school holidaysSo what are you waiting for? Get your little kid a copy today! Read more

In Dark Waters, the 14th gripping installment by Eric Chance Stone, Rick and his loyal crew are drawn deep into the heart of the Republic of Congo. When Possum uncovers a brutal mining operation exploiting locals for mere pennies, he enlists a mercenary from the elusive Black Oak to uncover the sinister forces at play. What begins as an exposé soon spirals into a high-stakes game of survival, with the gang navigating shadowy conspiracies, dangerous alliances, and ruthless adversaries. Taut with intrigue, Dark Waters is a pulse-pounding tale of justice, sacrifice, and the fight for human dignityA page turner that will take the reader to places they would never want to visit in real life. The book is based in the sad reality of what some humans have to go through to supply the worlds demand for minerals to run cell phones and electric cars. Read more

This is a lined notebook for writing notes in the field or just writing down your next task or great idea. The size of this notebook is 4" x 6" and is the perfect partner to The Professional Citizen Project series of field manuals. This ruled notebook comes with our custom British DPM 85 camo cover design.The cover is matte laminated softcover, which in general looks more professional. The paper weight is 60 lb, most popular quality office copy paper, so it can prevent ink leakage at a certain level.There are 100 ruled pages / 50 paper sheets in this notebook. There is also a design on the header every page to fill in date and subject. The header page design includes the Pro Citizen logo in the upper right corner to make it a bit more personal for you.Also, every page in this ruled notebook also comes with bottom page number so you can index your notes as needed. Summarized Specifications:Design: professional look with smart designDimension: 4 x 6 inchesNotebook Type: perfect binding, soft cover with matte-lamination styleLayout: no bleed, blank lined notebook, every page comes with field for header and with page numbered footers.Number of Pages: 100 pages / 50 sheetsPaper Weight: 60 lb, most common quality office copy paperMade In: USA Read more

**THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**A compulsively readable account of an African country now virtually inaccessible to the outside world and one journalist's daring and adventurous journey.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 - but travelling alone. 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. Butcher's journey was a remarkable feat, but the story of the Congo, told expertly and vividly in this book, is more remarkable still.‘A masterpiece’ John Le Carré‘Extraordinary, audacious, completely enthralling’ William Boyd‘A remarkable marriage of travelogue and history, which deserves to make Tim Butcher a star for his prose, as well as his courage’ Max Hastings Read more

Congo Road Map Read more

The World Today Series: Africa provides students with vital information on all countries on the African continent through a thorough and expert overview of political and economic histories, current events, and emerging trends. Each country is examined through the following sections: Basic Facts; Land and People; The Past: Political and Economic History; The Present: Contemporary Issues; and The Future. In addition to country chapters, the book features extended essays on Africa’s Historical Background and the Colonial Period. The combination of factual accuracy and up-to-date detail along with its informed projections make this an outstanding resource for researchers, practitioners in international development, media professionals, government officials, potential investors and students. The content is thorough yet perfect for a one-semester introductory course or general library reference. Available in both print and e-book formats and priced low to fit student and library budgets. Read more

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The national parks and reserves of East Africa are widely known for their rich and abundant wildlife. This book presents a new and exciting angle – the geological highlights of the region’s intriguing landscape. East Africa’s cataclysmic volcanic legacy, caused by rifting of the landmass, has resulted in a rich source of geological wonders. These range from the seemingly endless, peaceful plains of the Serengeti to the stark skyscraper walls of extinct calderas and the boiling magma cauldrons and belching vents of the Nyiragongo Volcano.This handy guide escorts users around all the major – and some minor – parks of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as the Virunga Mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Descriptions of each park and its wildlife offerings, both fauna and flora, preface discussion of the geological origins, influences and current conditions. Key geosites in the parks, and how to access them, are indicated. Maps, satellite images and diagrams, along with vivid photography, help explain the dramatic landforms, both close up and from above.For anyone planning a safari to the legendary East African game parks and reserves, this book adds an exciting new dimension. Read more

Kitabu means 'book' or 'diary' in Swahili...an appropriate word for this exciting autobiographical account covering twelve adventure-filled years of dedicated work among seventeen Central African tribes.In 1948 Jean-Pierre Hallet, age 21, embarked on a career in the Congo as an agronomist and sociologist for the Belgian Colonial Government. Working in intimate daily contact with the bushland tribes, he delved into the strange traditions and customs of each culture... the vivid background against which the reader relives the author's sometimes staggering adventures.Early in his career M. Hallet almost succumbed to malaria and blackwater fever, but as in other dangerous situations, his stamina and size (6'5", 240lbs) helped hims survive. Fluency with native tongues and determination to meet the Africans on a man-to-man level led him into a series of remarkable experiences, including his initiation in a Congolese secret society and blood brotherhood with Kenya's warrior Masai.In October 1955 he lost his right hand while dynamiting fish to feed the famine-stricken Bamosso of Burundi; a year later, one-handed, he attacked and killed a leopard which was mauling one of his porters.The author's work among the Bambuti Pygmies was described by the Central Congo Government as an 'ethnological revolution': he taught them to cultivate the soil, to build houses and schools, to read and write.When the Congo's troubled independence came in 1960, Hallet reached the painful conclusion that there was no longer a place for him. Read more

Follows the childhood experiences of seven-year-old Grace Berggren, the daughter of foreign missionaries living on the banks of the Congo River, and her growing attachment to the African landscape and the people, both indigenous and foreign, who surround her Read more

At the age of sixty, and having lived with Parkinson's disease for over ten years, Guy Deacon CBE set out on one last adventure: to drive solo from his home in the UK 18,000 miles and through twenty-five countries to Cape Town on the southern tip of Africa.This incredible journey, across Europe and down the full length of Africa, took the former British Army officer over twelve months. Along the way, he broke down five times, underwent one emergency evacuation, and took 3,650 prescription pills.There are only a handful of vehicles each year which attempt this difficult journey, many never complete it. Ongoing conflicts in Libya, South Sudan, Mozambique and many other countries make any journey exceptionally dangerous. In central Africa, road conditions, particularly in the rainy season, often make the going treacherous. Further hazards include illegal checkpoints, extortion, contaminated fuel and a lack of services.Guy drove, lived and slept in his VW Transporter, often in remote spots, hundreds of miles from the nearest village or town. Reliant on patchy GPS, he often got lost. His journey was, quite simply, an incredible feat by a man travelling alone with Stage 3 Parkinson's disease, when simply putting on a pair of shoes can take half an hour.But not only did Guy's journey fulfil a childhood dream to drive the length of Africa, his mission was also to raise global awareness of Parkinson's disease, for which there is currently still no cure. Read more

Bonobos have captured the public imagination in recent years, due not least to their famously active sex lives. Less well known is the fact that these great apes don’t kill their own kind, and that they share nearly 99 percent of our DNA. Their approach to building peaceful coalitions and sharing resources has much to teach us, particularly at a time when our violent ways have pushed them to the brink of extinction.Of Bonobos and Men is the account of acclaimed author Deni Ellis Béchard’s journey into the Congo to understand bonobos and to learn how to save them. Along the way, we see how partnerships between Congolese and Westerners, with few resources but a common purpose and respect for indigenous knowledge, have resulted in the protection of vast swaths of the rainforest. And we discover how small solutions—found through openness, humility, and the principle that “poverty does not equal ignorance”—are often most effective in tackling our biggest challenges.Combining elements of travelogue, journalism, and natural history, this incomparably rich book takes the reader not only deep into the Congo, but also into our past and future, revealing new ways to save the environment and ourselves. Read more

Thirteen-year-old Ben Tracey is looking forward to spending the summer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where his father has been hired to examine the valuable mineral Coltan that's being mined there. They soon realise that the people living in the village near the mine are frightened and it doesn't take long for Ben and his father to discover why: behind the door of every hut there is at least one person dying or seriously ill, and no one seems to be doing anything to help.As Ben's father falls ill, it's up to Ben and his new friend from the village, Halima, to try and tell the government what's going on so the village can be isolated before the sickness spreads further. Will they be able to prevent disaster? Read more

"In my home region, I saw a silent orange sphere. Out of the sphere came a kind of device like a flat plate. I couldn't understand it. Then the contraption rose higher and entered a sort of giant sphere. It disappeared immediately." "I worked for an oil company in Port-Gentil. I know that people saw strange lights above the oil platforms." "We have to be aware that UFOs and aliens are science fiction for us. And perhaps our spirituality lacks the height to analyse that." "There's an old Myènè legend about the man who left with an iron bird. ""What seems strange, bizarre, even frightening, no one will talk about. [...] You mustn't say things, otherwise it's bad luck."How can we deal with the subject of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in French-speaking Africa? By asking Africans. Some of them have a lot to say and share. Jann Halexander, a singer-songwriter from Libreville, Gabon, interviewed Gabonese and Congolese citizens about their perceptions of UFOs and extraterrestrials. This is a subject that is increasingly present on the international scene, particularly since the sworn statements made to the US Congress by veteran whistleblower David Grusch on 26 July 2023, who claimed that the United States was in possession of non-human technological material.In this book, made up of ten interviews and around fifteen personal accounts, Jann Halexander takes stock of the situation: how do Gabonese and Congolese societies view this issue in 2023? How do they analyse it? As the pages turn, the reader learns that the complex UFO issue is not just a matter for the United States or Europe.Jann Halexander, born on 13 September 1982 in Libreville, is a major figure in the French-speaking world. He celebrated twenty years in the music business on 30 March 2023 in a Paris venue. His songs include C'était à Port-Gentil, Le poisson dans mon assiette and Rester par habitude, as well as several novels, including La Bête Immonde and Nuit à Hogsback. A former geography student with a major in regional planning, he is the author of a dissertation entitled Effets de l'apartheid sur l'aménagement d'une ville moyenne sud-africaine durant la période 1948-1991 (Effects of apartheid on the planning of a medium-sized South African town during the period 1948-1991), submitted in 2004 to the geography department of the University of Angers. Through his writings, whatever their nature, Jann Halexander regularly explores themes that go against the grain.Foreword by Nicolas DumontIllustration by Anne-Cécile Makosso-AkendenguéTranslation : Ema. Read more

From inside an interrogation session with the Chinese Secret Police, a young American activist recounts her path into global human rights work—exploring critical lessons on privilege and compassion in the context of war and extreme suffering.When I was arrested by the Chinese military for launching a historic Tibetan Freedom protest, I knew every trial and lesson had been worth it—even if it meant facing a life in prison. After a childhood infused with esoteric Buddhist teachings, I was forged into a global activist through years of witnessing and collaborating in the dissent of women on the front lines of war. From villages in Nepal, to refugee camps in The Democratic Republic of Congo, to the streets of Bogota, Colombia, my initiation into human rights activism was raw and transformative. The bravery of those women bolstered me in my darkest hours of interrogation and torture by the Chinese Police, and it guides me now to share my true story—no matter the repercussions. This is not a tale the Chinese government wants told. During my years working in war zones, I often wondered if I’d have the courage to stand up to tyranny, to lay my life on the line to confront undeniable persecution. In 2007—on the slopes of Mt. Everest—I found out. Take a literary journey with me as I reveal the bumpy road I took to becoming my bravest self—learning to leverage a life of advantage, find a place for my own joy, and cultivate the courage needed to play a distinct role in history. Read more

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey through the heart of Africa? "The History of the Congo" invites you to delve into the captivating tale of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a nation as vast and diverse as the continent it resides in.In this text-only book, you will explore the epic narrative of the DRC, tracing its history from the ancient and medieval civilizations that once flourished within its borders to the modern-day challenges and triumphs that have shaped its identity.Inside these pages, you'll discover:+ The rise of kingdoms and empires in ancient Congo.+ The impact of European exploration and colonialism.+ The tumultuous journey to independence and the legacy of Patrice Lumumba.+ The era of dictatorship under Mobutu Sese Seko.+ The complexities of modern conflicts and peace efforts.+ Congo's influence on the African continent and the world.This book is a comprehensive exploration of a nation that has been at the crossroads of history for centuries. It takes you beyond the headlines and offers an in-depth look at the people, cultures, and landscapes that define the DRC.Perfect for history enthusiasts, travelers, and anyone interested in the intricate tapestry of Africa's past and present, "The History of the Congo" is a thought-provoking and enlightening read. With its text-only format, it provides a deep dive into the Congo's story, allowing you to immerse yourself in its complexities and triumphs.Don't miss the opportunity to discover the Congo's fascinating history. Buy your copy today and embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Africa. Read more