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FHS Literary Society Talk: Tim Butcher – ‘A Writer’s Walk on the Wild Side: Following Conrad in the Congo and Greene in West Africa’
Taking in Joseph Conrad and Graham Greene, Tim Butcher’s Literary Society talk on Friday 3rd February proved as expansive and captivating as the continent of Africa itself.
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Tim, widely known as a Foreign Correspondent for The Daily Telegraph as well as author of the best-selling travel books, Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart and Chasing the Devil: On Foot through Africa’s Killing Fields, spoke about the inspiration for his travels. This included Joseph Conrad’s journey around the Congo in the 1890s and Graham Greene’s trek in the region in the late 1950s. As well as illuminating his audience with insights into Conrad and Greene’s experiences, Tim also spoke about those of his own: for example, observing the struggles that Congalese children endure, ongoing signs of internal Congalese conflict and the decline in the region’s infrastructure.
It proved to be a stimulating and thought-provoking hour that appealed not just to those of a literary bent but also those with interests in the geographical, historical and cultural. The Literary Society would like to thank Tim for his talk and all those who attended, including girls from FHS Regent's Park and The Grey Coat Hospital School.