Horizon Fever I: 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 He died before I was born, but his unpublished manuscript, 'Horizon Fever', and many scrapbooks, survived.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, nearly 100 years after it was completed. --Victoria Twead

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 He died before I was born, but his unpublished manuscript, 'Horizon Fever', and many scrapbooks, survived.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. -- Victoria Twead

Victoria Twead is the New York Times bestselling author of Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools and the subsequent books in the Old Fools series. After living in a remote mountain village in Spain for eleven years, and owning probably the most dangerous cockerel in Europe, Victoria and Joe retired to Australia. Another joyous life-chapter has begun. Website: www.victoriatwead.com Join her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VictoriaTwead