Mimi and Toutou Go Forth

Oct 11, 2024 4:32 AM

Author:Giles Foden

At the start of World War One, German warships controlled Lake Tanganyika in Central Africa. The British had no naval craft at all upon 'Tanganjikasee', as the Germans called it. This mattered: it was the longest lake in the world and of great strategic advantage. In June 1915, a force of 28 men was despatched from Britain on a vast journey. Their orders were to take control of the lake. To reach it, they had to haul two motorboats with the unlikely names of Mimi and Toutou through the wilds of the Congo.

The 28 were a strange bunch -- one was addicted to Worcester sauce, another was a former racing driver -- but the strangest of all of them was their skirt-wearing, tattoo-covered commander, Geoffrey Spicer-Simson. Whatever it took, even if it meant becoming the god of a local tribe, he was determined to cover himself in glory. But the Germans had a surprise in store for Spicer-Simson, in the shape of their secret 'supership' the Graf von Gotzen . . .

Unearthing new German and African records, the prize-winning author of The Last King of Scotland retells this most unlikely of true-life tales with his customary narrative energy and style.

Fitzcarraldo meets Heart of Darkness, this is rich, vivid and flashmanesque in its appeal - military history at its most absorbing and entertaining

Reviews

Another delightful tale sieved from the flotsam of African military history from a writer who is fast creating a niche of his own

—— Arena

Foden has brought to life one of the strangest episodes of the first world war'... a real romp through the desert of darkness and extremely funny

—— Sunday Times

Giles Foden writes with wit ... give it a read

—— Literary Review

Well written and exciting... in this remarkable book...there are passages...that make the reader want to stand up and cheer

—— CHARLES ROLLINGS, author of WIRE AND WALLS

An astonishing tale - totally spellbinding. I always knew Bill Ash was a special guy but never realised how special... Perhaps his greatest achievement was to emerge from the horrors of the war with his faith in ordinary people enhanced

—— ALAN PLATER

His exploits may well have provided the inspiration for Steve McQueen's iconic role in The Great Escape... Sixty years on, that inspiration is still undimmed

—— YORKSHIRE EVENING POST

One of the greatest escapers of all time... An extraordinary adventure, full of humour and daring, one man's war against the Nazis, and a book well worth waiting sixty years for

—— OXFORD TIMES

He tells his story with humour and lightness of touch

—— WALES ON SUNDAY

Thoughtful, deep and poignant... Ash has a humour and insightfulness that adds to the history. His book is a testament to man's deep-seated yearning to be free

—— ROBERT WILCOX, author of SCREAM OF EAGLES

Impeccably researched, Bad Faith is a work of great power and originality; Callil is to be congratulated on her achieivement

—— Sunday Times

Previous Article：Under The Wire Next Article：To Lose a Battle

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.