DARK STAR SAFARI

Paul Theroux's recent journey through Africa was a personal one: He had been a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi (until being thrown out of the country for his involvement in a coup attempt) and a teacher in Uganda. His trip is one of joy at renewing old friendships and discovering a continent's great history, and great sadness in seeing the failures of aid programs and the resulting decay across the continent. Theroux's disillusionment shows throughout, particularly in passages about his verbal sparring with both missionaries and Africans about the continent's problems. Norman Dietz reads with the voice of a sharp-tongued and sharp-minded curmudgeon, often giving the impression that Theroux himself is relating his journeys. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]