It's unlikely you've ever heard of Paul Du Chaillu, but in 1856 he began a modest expedition into the African jungle in search of a monster. When he emerged three years later he brought an enormous collection of preserved birds and animals as well as fantastic stories of how he had faced - and killed - the beast he sought. His timing wasn't very good, however, and Americans were preoccupied with a civil war and he ended up being mostly ignored by people and universities. He was even upstaged by an enterprising P. T. Barnum. It was in London where he found an audience and soon became a celebrity, honored not only by the public but by the greatest intellectuals of the day. Suddenly everyone was taking notice of the monsters he had killed and preserved.
This is an interesting and fun read about the forgotten explorer who introduced the world to the gorilla; an animal that was thought to be far more dangerous than it really was and added steam to the evolution debates. In fact, for Du Chaillu, the civilized world turned out to be nearly as dangerous as anything he had faced in the jungles of Gabon. And Reel tells his story in a way that makes you sympathize with a guy who would have liked to have left his past behind him. And it would make a great summer read. (I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.)
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