Christopher Ondaatje

The author was not a particularly fond of Hemingway the man but was intrigued by the man’s writings and his relationship with Africa. Following Hemingway’s footsteps took Ondaatje through East Africa (Kenya and Tanganyika). Although he found many changes to the cities, transportation modes, and people, much stayed the same. Most of the photographs scattered throughout are of Hemingway and his friends. Newer pictures show landscape and people as Ondaatje saw them. He examined how Hemingway’s lifestyle influenced his writings. He also compares how viewpoints on hunting for sport changed political and social norms. Ondaatje makes the case that Hemingway recognized that the lack of civilization in East Africa and a real physical danger safari brought freed Hemingway from the shackles society applied to celebrities. The transitions between Hemingway’s word, scholar’s interpretations, and the author’s own opinion were well done. The book has chapter notes, bibliography, and an index.… (meer)