Post #112306 by ZebraTiki on Fri, Sep 3, 2004 6:44 PM

"I Married Adventure" by Osa Johnson (copyright 1940) is one of my favorite African safari/South Seas/Borneo non-fiction books. The Johnsons contributed to projects for the American Museum of Natural History. Martin Johnson was a photographer, and the book has many of his photos featuring boats and buildings made with thatched roofing, and wildlife of Africa and Borneo. They have bouts of "safari fever" (malaria), run low on funds, risk loads of film being exposed,and have George Eastman (their photography sponsor) along on several adventures.

Another book that isn't exactly travel essay, but biography is "Among the Stone Giants: The Life of Katherine Routledge and Her Remarkable Expedition to Easter Island".(2003)

It's by Jo Anne Van Tilberg, who is an archaeologist, described in the author bio as, "The contemporary world's leading authority on the Easter Island statues." The book is as much about Routledge's upbringing (daughter of Sir Robert Pease, big-game hunter.) and manic/schizophrenic episodes as her effect on the people of Rapa Nui, and how she tried to communicate with them. Her husband seemed to cause resentment and revolt with the natives, as well as their own crew. Interesting chapters about the moai, and the Rapa Nui people's regard of Katherine and her interest in the statues.