The Lost Tribe: A Harrowing Passage into New Guinea's Heart of Darkness

This was a great book, it read like a novel. It was fascinating and honest, Edward Marriott weaves a mystical story of the indigenous tribespeople of New Guinea, the Liawep. It at times seems too fantastic to be true, but the amazing thing about it is, that it is true. I hope he will write a follow up if he ever goes back! He's a great writer, never lingering too long on any episode, just enough to keep the reader interested. I read a lot of non-fiction and I must say that I recommend this one highly! An amazing book!

This was an author I had hoped would deliver something that many travel-writers don't - a sense of the freedom and anguish of the way we once lived, portrayed through the experiences of the living. In review, he largely managed this. But I still felt strangely unsatisfied when finishing the book. A feeling that emerges from the fact that you leave the story without actually knowing all that much about the tribe. You see, in truth this book is more about a series of events along a storyline than an expose of a 'lost' tribe. Of course this has much to do with his difficulties in communicating with the tribe, but nevertheless it is a shame.I did though feel that this story highlights the gulf still existing in the world across the spectrum of human cultures. It is for the reader to decide (or not) the value in maintaining or trying to close such a gulf, and for whose benefit - ours or theirs. For example, the impact of western religion on such tribes is shown in the book to be thoughtless and combattant in the way it is taught. Perhaps to be expected in the 18th or 19th century, but quite disturbing when it is in the present day.In conclusion, I think Marriot has done the Liawep justice with this story, but the damage he did during the course of his stay will probably haunt him and the Liawep for many years to come.

It is not often that one finds travel writing elevated to the level of adventure. What's more, Marriott's prose is clear and sincere. Overall, a great read. If you have not got your hand on a good travel book in a while, invest in this one. I'm going out to get the "Savage shore".

I have had the opprotunity to visit Papua , New Guinea twice in the past year on medical teams. The village I was in was not very far from Liawep. Marriott paints an excellent picture of the people, culture and terrain of Papua, New Guinea. It was thrilling to read of his accounts and I "almost" wish I was there to share his experiences with him on that journey. It is truely a beautiful land filled with wonderful people. I give this book two very big thumbs UP!

I read this book when it first came out and was so impressed I actually wrote a fan letter -- my first -- to the author. I'm a writer myself, as so I read the book with eye to the craft, the poetry of each line, the voice, the overall structure of the narrative. Yes, many people have read it through the filters of PC thinking, as a naive white boy's "comic book" take on an indigenous people -- but this misses the point and the great worth of this book, which is a personal adventure -- however naive -- into an extraordinary place with extraordinary people, told with great heart and craft.