On the Edge of the Primeval Forest

Filled with tales of adventure in an exotic land, one that has long since vanished, this book can be read as just another colonial Africa travel/adventure book. What makes it so much more is the unique character of the adventurer and story-teller himself, Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Already famous as a musician, theologian, philosopher and writer, in 1913 Schweitzer left a comfortable life among the intellectual elite of Europe to pursue a difficult path of personal service to the suffering natives of what was then French Equatorial Africa (present-day Gabon). What he accomplished there as a "jungle doctor" would later earn him the Nobel Peace Prize of 1952 as well as inspire others to pursue their own paths of service.

The first of four books on his work in Africa, this one tells the story of Schweitzer's first visit to Africa from 1913 to 1916, when he and his wife Helene established a hospital in Lambarene, on the Ogooue river. He describes their experiences fighting diseases like sleeping sickness, malaria and leprosy as well as army ants, snakes, spiders and the primeval forest itself. There are chapters about the history and climate of the region, the customs of the natives, the local timber trade and relations between colonial whites and natives.

The moving final chapter presents Schweitzer's concept of the "Fellowship of those who bear the Mark of Pain" and his hope that its members would join him in the humanitarian task of providing medical help to the suffering poor throughout the world.

ABOUT THIS ACTONIAN PRESS EDITION

Based on the original 1922 edition, this complete and unabridged kindle edition includes all the text and formatting and the 16 photographs and sketch map of the original. To this has been added an active table of contents, active list of illustrations and active outline.