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The Caliban Shore

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( 466 ratings, 54 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Caliban Shore by Stephen Taylor is a gripping historical account focusing on the wreck of the British ship, the Grosvenor, off the coast of Africa in 1782. It delves into the survival struggle of passengers and crew, navigating both the harsh wilderness and interactions with local tribes. This book vividly explores themes of endurance, cultural encounters, and human resilience in the face of adversity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by gripping true tales of shipwreck, survival, and colonial history. It delves into the harrowing experiences of castaways along the African coast in the early 19th century, blending historical narrative with adventure. If you appreciate stories of human endurance against the odds, this engrossing account might appeal to you.

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The enthralling true story of a famous eighteenth-century shipwreck off the coast of Africa.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Grosvenor was one of the finest East Indiamen of her day, a grand three-masted square-rigger of 741 tons bristling with 26 cannon. When she ran aground on the treacherous coast of south-east Africa, an astonishing number of her crew and passengers, including women and children, reached the shore safely. But the castaways were hundreds of miles from the nearest European outpost – and utterly ignorant of their surroundings and the people among whom they found themselves.

Stephen Taylor pieces together this extraordinary saga with tremendous narrative flair. Drawing upon much new research, he sifts the myths that became attached to the Grosvenor from a reality that is no less gripping. Taking the reader to the heart of what is now the Wild Coast of Pondoland, The Caliban Shore reveals the misunderstandings that led to tragedy, tells the story of those who escaped and unravels the mystery of those who stayed.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Caliban Shore by Stephen Taylor is praised for its gripping narrative that brilliantly combines elements of survival, social history, and anthropology. The book is celebrated as a multifaceted work that offers readers both an intriguing adventure and a detailed exploration of early encounters with exotic lands.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571210725

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 June 2005

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 200g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Stephen Taylor grew up in South Africa, and now works for The Times. He is the author of several celebrated books on Africa. The Mighty Nimrod (1989) was praised by Wilfred Thesiger as 'comprehensive and perceptive', while Jan Morris declared his history of the Zulu people, Shaka's Children (1994) a 'generous and truly moving work'. His most recent, Livingston's Tribe: A Journey from Zanzibar to the Cape was described in the Daily Mail as the 'most honest as well as the most enthralling account out of Africa for years'.

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