Lost Lion of Empire: The Life of Ewart Grogan DSO, 1876-1976 |
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Edward Paice
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Pages: 496 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0006530737
Pub: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Pub date: 2002-02-04
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 114279
Reader Reviews:
The Story of A Man and His Environment (4/5 people found this helpful)
This book is about a remarkable pioneer, who did some outstanding things. Traversed Africa by foot to gain a Lady's hand, laid the foundations of present day Nairobi, fought with the bureaucrats in the Colonial Office and much much more.
A remarkable person, in short, and certainly typical Victorian. A person you would like to know more about - especially his inner thoughts, motives etc. The authort keeps his usbject at arms-lenght though, which is slightly frustrating. Nevertheless, the author has done a remarkable job by saving this adventurer for posterity in an accesible way.
The other 'theme' if you like is the rise of an independant African nation from rough wilderness to a wealthy commodity producer. Last week headlines about cannibalisme in Eastern Congo cannot come as a suprise, once you've read the Grogan's visit to the same area a 100 years ago.
What makes the book interesting is the intertwining between the Man and his Environment. Or in plain English, the role a true Victorian Empire Builder can play in the whole process of independance, changing his views way before the majority in England or in Kenia was ready to do so.
Interesting all together, a great historical biography. The main character remains slightly at a distance, but that is no hurdle for great reading.
He came first in many ways (4/4 people found this helpful)
"He should get more credit for this amazing development." The owner of the sisal plantation which was developed from virtually useless land thirty years earlier, said this in 1998 of Ewart Scott Grogan 1874 -1967. This is the story of a remarkably brilliant and complex man, crafty, brave and with incredible foresight, he was condemned like Cassandra, never to be believed until it was too late. Nevertheless he managed to win and lose several fortunes.
The book also tells the story of the scramble for Africa in the early years of the twentieth century and the scramble out of Africa fifty years later.
Grogan was the first man to cross the continent from Cape to Cairo and thus win himself a bride. He fought in the Boer War and in East and Central Africa in World Wars I and II. In between whiles he was in constant conflict with the Colonial Office who, for the most part, couldn’t cope with his maverick style. He was frequently proved right in his judgement, and on at least two occasions the government had to admit to having dealt with him deceitfully and illegally.
He was the first man to establish a sawmill, a brickworks, a luxury hotel in Kenya. He was the driving force in building Kenya’s railways and a deep water harbour in Mombasa. He was also the first man to fly from Cairo to the Cape, retracing his own footsteps. In 1932 it took him eight and a half days.
There is much to learn from this book: about the role of Indians in East Africa; about the origins of the horrors in Urundu, Burundi and the Congo in recent years; about Kenya’s troubled transition to independence in the 1960’s; all this tracing the important role played by the not always likeable buccaneer Ewart Scott Grogan.
The boldest and baddest of a bold, bad gang (3/6 people found this helpful)
The title suggests that this is the sort of book that your grandfather would enjoy - particularly if he has a moustache, lives in the country, and reads the Daily Telegraph. But if you have any sort of sense of adventure, admire those with an unshakeable will, smile at Errol Flynn`s devil may care sophistication in a dozen films, or have ever been tempted by Africa - whether as a teenage fan of Wilbur Smith, as a holiday destination, or as an addict - then you must read this book. Grogan was an extraordinary man. Edward Paice makes me wish that I had spent a couple of years researching this, rather than him!
Enjoying reading this book might also be just about the only thing you and your figurative grandfather have in common: he might then remember that the British Empire was built by people who broke almost all his rules. You might finally discover what his generation were so proud of. Even if you hate everything they stood for: well, its a great story anyway, and I defy you not to stand in awe of Ewart Grogan.
A must to read (3/5 people found this helpful)
A compelling read from start to finish. Has all the ingredients of a 19th Century 'Indiana Jones' - action, adventure & women. A very well written biography. Well researched, witty, and informative. Why have we never heard of Ewart Grogan before?
A brilliantly researched biography and a compelling story. (2/3 people found this helpful)
The story of the life and times of Ewart Grogan almost defies credulity when compared with what qualifies as outstanding achievement in modern times.The author manages to immerse one in the pioneering spirit that pervaded the soul of this extraordinary man whilst at the same time annotating in detail the challenges that history was laying in his path,and most of which he inevitably conquered.Grogan`s energy was legendary to those who knew him well,yet Edward Paice manages to convey this zest to the reader without losing sight of the detailed magnitude of Grogan`s accomplishments,and shows himself to be both a connoisseur and a lover of Africa. This is a gripping tale of an era that many prefer to forget,yet who would gain a thorough insight into the intricacies and legacies of colonisation that are now so regularly demeaned without an understanding of the world that Ewart Grogan inhabited.
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