The Eye of the Leopard

By: Henning Mankell, Steven T. Murray - translator

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Brought to you by Penguin.

Since his mother's disappearance, Hans Olofson has led an isolated life. When he loses his girlfriend in tragic circumstances, he decides to fulfil her dream: to visit the grave of a legendary missionary in Zambia.

On reaching Africa, Hans is struck by its beauty and mystery, and an opportunity of employment tempts him to stay. But he soon becomes embroiled in the issues of the local community. As relationships splinter and fray, Hans realises that his African dream is rapidly turning into a nightmare...

'Absorbing, chilling and dripping with evil atmosphere' The Times

© Henning Mankell 2008 (P) Penguin Audio 2010

A long and melancholic saga of life in

A long and melancholic story of a boy's life in a small inland town in Sweden and then his twenty two years living in Africa. An insight into the political and social structure in Africa and life for white farmers as they are murdered and driven off their land while the country slides into ruin. Not the most interesting of Henning Mankell's books, but made all the more palatable by Saul Reichlin's excellent narration. A sad reflection of the way a rich country is turned into a third world country by corruption and the abuse of power. This is the only one of Henning Mankell's books that is not in the top tier of my library, but the second. I do not regard this as less of an effort by the author, compared to the rest of his books, I just don't care for the subject matter.