Talk:Journey Without Maps

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comments[edit]

There are some inaccuracies in this article: Barbara Greene's account was first published in 1938 under the title "Land Benighted". Paul Theroux in his introduction to the 1981 edition says: "Few journeys have been so well recorded, and there are few discrepancies and no contradictions between the two accounts." I have just read both books in parallel, and would agree with Theroux.

The comment that Greene underpaid his reporters shows bias. The point is true but should be taken in context: Barbara and Paul Theroux commend him for his treatement of the natives: "Graham did not take any of the advice he was given by the colonials. He had been told to be harsh, to distrust, to shout. Instead, 'he treated them exactly as if they were white men from our own country. He talked to them quite naturally and they liked him'. This got results, 'they did everything he wanted them to do'."

- quoted from Theroux's introduction which quotes Barbara.

It is true that he underpaid his reporters, and knew it, but he also knew he did not have enough money to pay them the full government rate and complete the trip.

The article does not mention that Graham was very ill from the 11th day of the trip, and nearly died in Zigi's Town. Annec1 (talk) 17:58, 31 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'm at a loss what to do about the discrepancy (or not) between the two accounts. Michael Shapiro's book is explicit about the differences, forcefully stressing how different the accounts are. The exact opposite of what Paul Theroux said.

Michael Shapiro (2004). A Sense of Place: Great Travel Writers Talk about Their Craft, Lives, and Inspiration. (page 35).

"[her memoir] contradicts Greene's memoir on almost every point.. neither narrator agrees with the one other as to anything at all, where they were, who they saw, what they met, the condition of his illness, whatever. There is just no consonance between these two accounts."

Green Cardamom (talk) 04:03, 11 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Ok, per Wikipedia policy when there is conflicting sources, both are listed. Annec1, I realize you read the book and agree with Theroux but since we have sources we should probably list them. Theroux does say "few discrepancies", which implies there are some, and Shapiro says there are a lot, so either way, there are discrepancies, but how many appears to be a question of opinion. Green Cardamom (talk) 12:36, 11 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Assessment comment[edit]

The comment(s) below were originally left at Talk:Journey Without Maps/Comments, and are posted here for posterity. Following several discussions in past years, these subpages are now deprecated. The comments may be irrelevant or outdated; if so, please feel free to remove this section.

Comment(s)

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There are some inaccuracies in this article:

Barbara Greene's account was first published in 1938 under the title "Land Benighted". Paul Theroux in his introduction to the 1981 edition says: "Few journeys have been so well recorded, and there are few discrepancies and no contradictions between the two accounts." I have just read both books in parallel, and would agree with Theroux.

The comment that Greene underpaid his reporters shows bias. The point is true but should be taken in context: Barbara and Paul Theroux commend him for his treatement of the natives: "Graham did not take any of the advice he was given by the colonials. He had been told to be harsh, to distrust, to shout. Instead, 'he treated them exactly as if they were white men from our own country. He talked to them quite naturally and they liked him'. This got results, 'they did everything he wanted them to do'."

- quoted from Theroux's introduction which quotes Barbara.

It is true that he underpaid his reporters, and knew it, but he also knew he did not have enough money to pay them the full government rate and complete the trip.

The article does not mention that Graham was very ill from the 11th day of the trip, and nearly died in Zigi's Town. Annec1 (talk) 17:58, 31 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Last edited at 17:58, 31 October 2008 (UTC). Substituted at 20:37, 29 April 2016 (UTC)