
Horizon Fever
A E FILBY
Explorer A E Filby’s own account of his extraordinary expedition through Africa, 1931 – 1935
Not only was A E Filby a famous British explorer, but he was also my Uncle Archie. He died before I was born, but his unpublished manuscript, ‘Horizon Fever’, and many scrapbooks, survived. Proclaimed “the World’s most travelled motorist”, A E Filby undertook some breathtaking expeditions, including his 37,000 mile journey from London to Cape Town and back in a series of dilapidated motorcars.
‘Horizon Fever’ is an honest, colourful, often shocking account; a snapshot of bygone days and attitudes. It tells of missionaries, pygmies, big-game hunting, gold-mining, crossing the Sahara and swimming in the Nile with crocodiles.
One of Archie’s companions was a monkey called Congo. Another was a dog that adopted him, until it was killed and dragged up a tree by a leopard. Archie himself comes across as a courageous, feisty, quick-tempered, bossy little man, but full of fun, generous and never one to bear a grudge.
Thanks to Archie’s records and photographs, we have a unique glimpse of an astonishing feat of endurance, 80 years after it was completed.
Book Themes
Africa, explorers, vintage cars,
Books by Victoria
Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools
Two Old Fools on a Camel (Three times New York Times Bestseller)
Two Old Fools Down Under (coming)
One Young Fool in South Africa
How to Write a Bestselling Memoir
Morgan and the Martians: A funny play for kids
The Sixpenny Cross series
D – Z works in progress
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