"a comprehensive contemporary history of sub-Saharan Africa"
Oprah Magazine
April 2009
"A remarkably full-bodied and frank discussion of Africa's place in the world"
Kirkus Reviews
"Richard Dowden's compelling new book...looks at individual countries in turn, drawing on his own experiences in an engaging narrative"
Susan Williams - The Independent
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"Richard Dowden's book is a wise, compassionate and understanding account of Africa, written by a man who has glimpsed deeper truths about the continent; truths that we need to know"
Bishop Trevor Mwamba - The Times
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"This is non-fiction writing at its most authentic...it is a masterly overview of the world's most troubled continent"
Tim Butcher - The Daily Telegraph
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"Dowden has devoted his life to reporting and striving to understand Africa...It is a wonderfully honest book that makes more sense of the current situation across the continent than any other recent account I have read"
Patrick Marnham - The Spectator
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"Mr Dowden maintains the reader's interest by skilfully interweaving his research on the economic effects of AIDS and international aid into stories of myriad encounters with Africans rich and poor"
The Economist
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"Richard Dowden's Africa is an extraordinary book of many dimensions. It is full of...eye-witness accounts of Africa's ordinary horrors and miracles"
John Lonsdale - The Financial Times
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"Dowden's experiences as a journalist over three decades are blended with summary historical analysis and a sprinkling of more wide-ranging insights"
John Ryle - The Guardian
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