The Unveiling of Timbuctoo

Rene Caillie was one of the great explorers and adventurers in European history. His journey to Timbuctoo is awe inspiring. It is a grand testament to the human spirit that he was able to overcome so many obstacles to achieve this staggering dream. This uneducated, unfinanced young man attained a goal unfullfilled by many a great explorer. Galbraith Welch does a fine job of retelling this amazing tale. I would have to state that I found some of her narrative condescending to the African natives and customs that Caillie encountered in his rounds. There is a trace of a sneer which was probably lacking in Caillie himself. This is a minor criticism, however. Welch was also a product of her own era. It does not diminish from a spectacular achievement. I was inspired by this story. The human spirit once more displays its glory. Obstacles can be overcome and goals can be attained. Overall, this is a valuable book to read.