Michael the Giant: An African in Greenland

I have just finished reading the English translation of this book on my Kindle and what a great read it was. I’ve even put the original French version in my “wish list” in case I have the time and energy to read the account again in its original language. It will be an enormous challenge of my French, but as the author Tété-Michel Kpomassie has mastered his own tongue (from Tongo), French, Innuit, English and I am sure many others, I feel it only right that I should at least make the effort to read his original work in French (one of the few languages that I have managed to gain a grip of). If I ever achieve this goal it will be in tribute to this wonderful, eye-opening account of his travels starting as a 16-year-old from Africa to France to Greenland – with a few side trips around Germany/Austria, Denmark etc.

I first heard about this book at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, where we had the privilege to meet “Michael” virtually at least from his home in Greenland. He seemed such a pleasant person that upon leaving the event nearly everyone seemed to agree that they could understand why so many strangers had taken him under their wing and looked after him during his long journey.

Must stop now as I have to eat my breakfast and want to post this before I leave. Final point: I highly recommend that you read this book, which has now been translated into so many different languages – so you have no excuse!