''The Africa House'' is a 1999 biography by British journalist and writer Christina Lamb. The book is subtitled ''The True Story of an English Gentleman and His African Dream'', and was published in London in 1999 by Viking Penguin.

Synopsis

''The Africa House'' is an account of the life of soldier, pioneer white settler, politician and supporter of African independence Stewart Gore-Browne in relation to the building of his estate Shiwa Ngandu in Northern Rhodesia, now

Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...

. Originating with a chance encounter in 1996 with Gore-Browne's grandson in Lusaka, the book uses Gore-Browne's diaries, letters, personal papers and photographs as well as those of his family, and interviews with family and friends, as its sources.

Reception

Critical reception for ''The Africa House'' was mixed to positive. ''

The Seattle Times ''The Seattle Times'' is a daily newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1891 and has been owned by the Blethen family since 1896. ''The Seattle Times'' has the largest circulation of any newspaper in Washington ...

'' praised ''The Africa House'', calling it 'a stunning description of a time, a place, a man and two countries' politics'. ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...

'' called the book a 'marvellous story' but criticized Lamb for 'the maddening device of putting feelings into people's minds' as well as stating that many of the pictures were 'printed too small to be easily identifiable'. '' Kirkus Reviews'' wrote that the book was 'a cautionary but sympathetic story of a man obsessed, though less perniciously than most'. In an article for ''

New Statesman The ''New Statesman'' is a British Political magazine, political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney Webb, Sidney and Beatrice ...

'', Graham Boynton positively reviewed ''The Africa House'', writing that it 'is an important book, since not only does it tell the story of an extraordinary character but it also helps explain the place of the white man in Africa'. ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' gave a mixed review for ''The Africa House'', saying the book was 'engaging and well crafted, although Lamb's attempts at dramatizing her subjects' emotional lives sometimes read like a romance novel, and her narrow focus on the house's history obscures the wider context of waning British empire'.

References

External links

Author's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Africa House 1999 non-fiction books Biographies about politicians Books about Africa British biographies History of Zambia