Speak Swahili, Dammit !

This captivating book deals with the humour and tragedy of the author as a young boy growing up in what was then colonial Tanganyika. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Africa before the Winds of Change swept across the continent to alter the lives of so many lucky enough to experience those times. Like many who were born and lived in Africa, the author's life was not the easy one people think colonial expatriates enjoyed, and he relates so vividly his own tragic experiences with hardship, danger and death. Many perils abounded from wild animals, venomous snakes and deadly tropical illnesses. Notwithstanding the ever-present black shadow of death and danger, was the natural instinct of kids to have fun, and the escapades and pleasure the author and his contemporaries created for themselves is related by Penhaligon with rib-aching humour.   'Do not read this on the train because, if you are like me, you will laugh out loud and other people will think you are a bit strange. Like all the other reviewers, I really enjoyed it. I have never been to Tanzania but the author really brings it to life, as it was in the 50s and 60s. Highly recommended!'