Tete-Michel Kpomassie was born in 1941, in Togo West Africa. When it was first published, his critically acclaimed travelogue, Michel the Giant- An African in Greenland, was awarded the Prix Litteraire Francophone International and shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award.
Remarkable . . . skilful storytelling . . .
intrepidly adventurous and unconventional . . . couldn't be more
relevant. The kinship he felt with the Inuit on that first
visit saw the publication of a literary work that was well ahead of
its time. -- Michael Segalov * Observer *
Fearless reverse ethnology . . . gorgeous
descriptions . . . an eye for absurdity . . . Kpomassie is a writer
of enviable and maybe indispensable amiability and serenity
. . . With his gaze and his mind continually turned out and facing
forward, he is up to every predicament he encounters; he has the
mother wit, the equanimity and the self-confidence of the
epic hero -- London Review of Books * Michael Hofmann *
Beautiful, compassionate, insightful . . . inner and outer
landscapes both richly and honestly detailed . . . the
furthest a book has taken me . . . Astonishing -- Johny
Pitts * author of Afropean *
A fascinating snapshot of Inuit culture and a reminder of
the common threads that bind us all . . . a first-rate
storyteller to the whole world -- Noo Saro-Wiwa * The Times
*
It is a long way in miles, but even longer in resilience,
adventurous persistence and uncanny charm. . . . Kpomassie's
book contains a catalogue of his impressions, combined with
striking passages of fine writing. The result is the curious
double perspective of a naive visitor, combined with the controlled
distance of a writer -- Paul Zweig * The New York Times Book Review
*
Warm, witty and joyful -- Ann Morgan * Financial Times *
Surprising . . . this beautifully written,
page-turning piece of unjudgmental anthropological reportage
by a black man finding his soul through seeking the soul of the
Inuit recognises an important lesson for today. -- Sue Prideaux *
The Times *
Pioneering and unforgettable * Mr Porter *
An ebullient snapshot of a vanished age -- John Self * Observer New
Review *
![]() |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
![]() |