Then I Saw the Congo

"Then I Saw the Congo" is a compelling firsthand account of a journey across the heart of Africa during the late 1920s. Written by noted novelist and travel writer Grace Flandrau, the work chronicles an expedition that takes the author from the Atlantic coast, through the dense jungles of the Belgian Congo, and toward the Indian Ocean. Unlike many traditional colonial narratives of the era, Flandrau offers a sharp and often ironic perspective on the changing landscape of the continent, observing the complex intersection of indigenous cultures and the encroaching influence of Western civilization.

The narrative captures the raw beauty of the African wilderness while providing detailed observations of the people, customs, and daily life encountered along the way. Flandrau's prose brings to life the challenges of travel in the interior, from navigating the vast Congo River to trekking through remote regions rarely documented by Western women at the time. "Then I Saw the Congo" stands as a significant historical document of Central Africa between the World Wars, offering readers a window into a pivotal era of exploration. It remains a valuable resource for those interested in travel literature, African history, and the evolution of the Western perspective on the African continent.

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