Moving beyond travelogue, V. S. Naipaul#39s The Masque of Africa considers the effects of belief (in indigenous animisms, the foreign religions of Christianity and Islam, the cults of leaders and mythical history) upon the progress of African civilization.Beginning in Uganda, at the centre of the continent, Naipaulrsquos journey takes in Ghana and Nigeria, the Ivory Coast and Gabon, and ends, as the country does, in South Africa.Focusing upon the theme of belief ndash though sometimes the political or economical realities are so overwhelming that they have to be taken into account ndash Naipaul examines the fragile but enduring quality of the old world of magic. To witness the ubiquity of such ancient ritual, to be given some idea of its power, was to be taken far back to the beginning of things. To reach that beginning was the purpose of this book.lsquoThe quality of Naipaulrsquos writing ndash simple, concise, engaging ndash rarely varies . . . Above all, Naipaulrsquos latest African journey is eyewitness reporting at its bestrsquo ndash TimePart of the Picador Collection, a series celebrating fifty years of Picador books and showcasing the best of modern literature.

Binding: Paperback;336 pages; Publisher: Macmillan Publishers Int Ltd - MDL; Classification: HRAM2; Weight: 350 g; Dimensions: 130 x 198 x 22

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