Easy read, not terribly enlightening. Biographical regarding Paul du Chaillu - something of an outsider with West African/French roots, then spent some time in the U.S. Got the idea of forming an expedition into west Africa - his old stomping grounds in Gabon - with primary purpose (if undisclosed) of bringing back gorilla skins. Gorilla largely unknown at this time - 1856 - (author says du Chaillu encountered "lowland" gorillas; the "mountain" gorillas of Diane Fossey fame weren't known to whites until around 1900).
His timing overlapped precisely with the finalization and publication of Darwin's "Origin of Species" and accompanying debates. He was an amateur explorer - though apparently brave and effective - with a gift for recounting tales. And tales about gorillas couldn't have fit better with the debates about evolution, man compared to apes, etc. He was accepted and sponsored by some of the big names in the Royal Geographical Society (England) - panned by plenty of others.
The "Gorilla Quadrille" - oh wow.
One of my main reasons for reading this is a desire to get a better handle on Victorian England - it had some value in this regard. For example, it explained Charles Mudie's lending library and its effect on novelists - even the big names modified their approach to fit his demands.
I've read plenty of other books about African exploration that were more interesting, however. Not particularly recommended.
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