Kindle Price: $8.99

Save $5.14 (36%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Pandora In The Congo Kindle Edition

by Albert Sánchez Piñol (Author), Mara Faye Lethem (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
See all formats and editions
It is 1914. In the heart of the Belgian Congo, Garvey, a bedraggled British manservant, emerges from the jungle. He is the lone survivor of a mining expedition in which both his masters have died, and all of the party's African porters have fled. With him, he carries two huge diamonds.
From his prison cell in London, Garvey recounts his horrific and thrilling ordeal. Young Tommy Thomson is assigned to transcribe Garvey's story and only he can untangle the extraordinary mysteries of the Garvey case.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    450 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Canongate Books
  5. Publication date
    April 16, 2009
  6. File size
    4125 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page

Editorial Reviews

Review

An African brew with a dash of derring-do. Laced with a heady post-modern investigation into the dark art of telling tales. -- Christian House ― Independent

Wonderful. ― The Times

Pandora in the Congo is a wonderful book on so many levels - the story within a story of Garvey's time in Africa, as recounted by Thomson, is thrilling and compulsive . . . Pinol deftly weaves his theme of deception into all strands of the story . . . this is a cracking story on so many levels - and one of which any master of magical realism would be just as proud as a teller of tales of derring do. -- Simon Appleby ― Bookgeeks.co.uk

An action-packed adventure story in the best Rider Haggard tradition and a sophisticated reflection on the imaginative power of literature. Impressive and most unusual. ― Independent

Albert Sanchez Pinol is possessed of an exceptional, fecund and devious imagination. -- David Mitchell

A literary dynamite charge. ― Independent on Sunday

Going into that realm of hyperbolic fabulation where Umberto Eco has long made safari, Pandora in the Congo marks Sanchez Pinol's emergence as a significant European writer. -- Giles Foden ― Guardian

A rip-roaring historical adventure. ― Scotland on Sunday

Free of the sometimes stilted quality that dogs translated novels, this is simultaneously a gripping yarn and a genre-bending re-examination of the fiction of a bygone age.

-- Alex Larman ― Observer

From the Back Cover

'A rip-roaring historical adventure.'
Scotland on Sunday

It is 1914. From the jungle at the heart of the Belgian Congo emerges a British manservant named Garvey. He is the lone survivor of a mining expedition in which both his masters have died, and all of the party's African porters have fled. With him, he carries two huge diamonds.

From his prison cell in London, Garvey recounts his horrific and thrilling ordeal. Young Tommy Thomson must transcribe Garvey's story and only he can unpick fact from fiction amidst the extraordinary mysteries of the Garvey case.

'Pinol is possessed of an exceptional, fecund and devious imagination.'
David Mitchell

'Going into that realm of hyperbolic fabulation where Umberto Eco has long made safari, this marks Pinol's emergence as a significant European writer.'
Giles Poden, Guardian

'Full of sci-fi happenings and tall tales, this sparky romp is addictive.'
Financial Times

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002VNFNAG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Canongate Books; Main edition (April 16, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 16, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4125 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 450 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
21 global ratings

Top review from the United States

fernando rodriguez
4.0 out of 5 stars Althoug unbelivable and too much fantastic, it twisted near the end and every became ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2015
Verified Purchase
Very interesting story. Althoug unbelivable and too much fantastic, it twisted near the end and every became very real. The author has a very high sense of humor.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

S. D. Crawshaw
5.0 out of 5 stars High Adventure in the jungle
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 23, 2009
Verified Purchase
This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm so glad that I read it.
Firstly, I have to say how amazed I am that Mr Pinol isnt British, and that this is a translation. Often translated books don't flow particularily well. This one does, and whats more Mr Pinol has got the various British traits off to a T.
This book is exceptionally well written, with lots of bits of philosophy and errudite observation thrown in. However, they never interupt the flow of the story, which could best be described as a ripping yarn in the style of H. Rider Haggard.
I love the way that the protagonists relationships with the Barrister, with his landlady and especially with Marie-Antoinette, the shelless tortoise are drawn.
There is a lot of humour in the novel, a lot of tension, and many twists and turns in the plot.
Its a really easy read and tremendous fun, and, if you are anything like me, your memory will keep returning to Marcus Garvey, the Tectons, and, in particular, Amgam, long after the final revelations of the plot are revealed.

Much of the action takes place in the jungle and that is where the H Rider Haggard comparisons come in. Everything is also set against the background of the First World War, but the War is never really allowed to intrude on the tale, its only used to further the tale.

I recommend this novel most highly
One person found this helpful
 Report
Sara
3.0 out of 5 stars Silly and clever
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
A rather imaginative story although eventually you begin to spot the contradictions. The ending is either clever or annoying - possibly both. 'Cold Skin' was a significantly better read with beautiful phrasing; this book lacks that artistry.
Report
peter515018
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great writer - prompt service
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report