A volume of the young poet and acclaimed writer's reminiscences of Zimbabwe, his journey and experiences in the country, as he follows in the footsteps of an obscure relative who devoted his life to the people of Rhodesia.

Atgofion y bardd a'r awdur poblogaidd, ifanc o'i daith a'i brofiadau yn Simbabwe, yn dilyn ôl traed perthynas a ymroddodd ei fywyd i bobl Rhodesia.

THE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2005

I'm jealous. Owen Sheers is far too good-looking for his own good. He was also selected by The Independent on Sunday as one of thirty new writers to watch. Luckily he can write, so I'm able to forgive him – just.

Known as a poet of note, Sheers has branched out with The Dust Diaries into the world of prose. His writing is still poetic but here he offers us something to get lost in, in a way that I find I only can with prose. This is the story of a missionary with a difference. Sheers, on a family trip home, discovered the papers of his great-great Uncle Arthur Crisps, who, like Sheers, was once a poet who decided he wanted to change direction. Instead of turning to prose, Crisp decided to become a missionary – like you do.

Sheers follows in his relative's tracks and takes us to Zimbabwe to rediscover the country, then Rhodesia, of over hundred years ago. This is a world of corsets and dinner parties and zealous colanisation. Crisps, though, becomes at odds with this world as he discovers respect for the indigenous culture. Perhaps if there were more like him the country wouldn't be the place it is today.

There's a mystery here too. As Sheers charts his uncle's journey, investigating him both in the dusty library shelves of Oxford and under the hot African skies, he tantalizes us with the reasons for the man's departure from England. This keeps the pages turning in what isn't a light read and has been criticized for not really getting to the heart of Africa by those that know it a whole lot better than me.

This is a sort of poetic docudrama, a fictionalised biography that offers some insight into Africa past and present, as well as a homage to an interesting life from a very good-looking writer. (And I'd read it if he wasn't so photogenic. Probably.)

Michael Nobbs

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.