That title says it all doesn’t it?

You just know you’re in for a great read when someone is writing about, Crossing the Heart of Africa.

Julian Smith tells a tale of love and travel. I love travel and I am in love with my husband so this book was definitely for me. I havent written a review in a while, but this titile intrigued me.

Crossing the Heart of Africa Intertwines two love stories. One taking place at the end of the 19^th century and the other in today’s world as the author embarks on his own journey of self-discovery.

I found it interesting that Smith compared his story to that of Captain Ewart Grogan in the late 1800’s. Grogan was a soldier who journeyed to Africa to survey the continent and prove his love and loyalty to his one true love, Gertrude Watt.

He walked from the Cape of Good Hope to Cairo surveying the continent to prove his worth to her stepfather. Being dismissed by her family as a “ne’er-do-well,” Grogan banked on fame and fortune to achieve their acceptance and her hand in marriage.

He laid his life on the line and faced the many dangers of a wild Africa surviving Malaria, savage tribes, man-eating animals and the untamed jungle all in the name of love.

Not Exactly the Same Situation

So what gave Smith the inkling that he could compare his story with this great love affair? His is of running away from his love while Grogan is of running to his love. The Author was to be married in 3 months to his girlfriend of 7 years. Being afraid of commitment he leaves his fiancé to set out for his one last solo adventure before the old ball and chain of marriage ties him down.

While Grogan went to Africa to prove himself and gain the respect of a family that was of a higher class and state in life, Smith seemed to want to do get as far away from his fiancé as he could.

Although this annoyed me greatly, I still enjoyed reading the book and found that the interweaving of time moved smoothly.

I found the era of the 1800’s to be a more compelling read than Smiths story in today’s world and wanted more out of his adventure through Africa. After all, uncomfortable bus rides and near ferry delays aren’t quite as exciting being eye-to-eye with a lion or surrounded by hostile tribes.  I’m not going to lie, having cycled from Cairo to Cape Town, I wasn’t blown away by Smith’s small portion of the journey that Grogan did on foot and we did on bikes. It simply looked to me like a regular old backpacker wanting to run away for a bit and get out of planning a wedding.

As a couple that shares our travels and looks at marriage as a great adventure it was impossible for me to relate to his reasoning for taking off so close to his wedding.  But, I did enjoy the read and admire his courage for putting his heart and feelings out there to be judged by all. Smith is a good writer and can tell a captivating story. He held my interest all the way through the book even as I grew frustrated with his fear of commitment.

Crossing the heart of Africa made me want to learn more about Captain Ewart Grogan. It took him two and a half years to walk from Cape Town to Cairo and upon his return he was met with fame and fortune. But the icing on the cake was that he married Gertrude and lived happily ever after until her death in 1943.

Now that’s a great love story.

Julian Smith is an award-winning travel writer whose work has appeared in Outside, National Geographic Adventure, National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian, Wired, theWashington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, among other publications. He is the author of guidebooks to El Salvador, Ecuador, Virginia, and the southwestern United States, and he has been honored by the Society of American Travel Writers for writing the best guidebook of the year. He lives with his wife and daughter in Portland, Oregon.

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