Sufferings in Africa

By: James Riley

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

In this classic tale of adventure, a young American sea captain named James Riley, shipwrecked off the western coast of North Africa in 1815, was captured by a band of nomadic Arabs and sold into slavery. Thus begins an epic adventure of survival and a quest for freedom that takes him across the Sahara desert.

This dramatic account of Captain Riley's trials and sufferings sold more that one million copies in his day and was even read by a young and impressionable Abraham Lincoln. The degradations of a slave existence and the courage to survive under the most harrowing conditions have rarely been recorded with such painful honesty.

Sufferings in Africa is a classic travel-adventure narrative and a fascinating testament of white Americans enslaved abroad, during a time when slavery flourished throughout the United States.

(P)2001 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Reader Brian Emerson is monotonous and cool, punctuating sentences by prolonging the last word and dropping his voice. The didactic, well-pronounced delivery...makes the history seem plausible." (AudioFile)

Great story

Found the book very interesting and informative. Highly recommend it. Wish there were more pertaining to these people.

Antique Ethnography in Form of Shipwreck Tale

It's an old text, but shows an intimate, and fairly balanced view of traditional nomadic Arab life on the Southern west coastal region of Morocco in the 1815s. The original author strives to represent the environment and human life as he sees and experiences it. It kind of cuts off, meanders once the Americans shipwrecked are finally 'rescued as I would like to hear about their return... but .. can't read what isn't there 🤷🏻‍♀️. If interested in antique ethnography, give this a listen.

Wow

This is an amazing story of one man’s (parties) suffering from a shipwreck, capture and enslavement on the African continent. This is a valuable book for our modern understanding of slavery that was once a worldwide practice, rather than as we Americans are told that this was a uniquely American problem. The entire book is harrowing with the candid details of malnutrition and subhuman treatment that was provided, but also of the generosity and friendship that was kindled through these sufferings, even between master and slave! You will likely come away from this book saddened by the sufferings, but glass of the relationships that were made by the mutual respect found, and may even change your mind about the realities of slavery.

A true "must read"

Everything from adventure to inspiration, this book will not disappoint. Abe Lincoln would give it five stars.

A must read for history enthusiasts

This is a interesting and factual recount of witnessed history. A book now 200 years old that gives us an account of a culture that is long past and The roots of a culture the west currently grapples with. It is a must read for anybody interested in today's east west conflicts and honest real history.

muy recomendable, me encanto

da perspectiva a los pequeños problemas de la vida. great book i loved it, recmmend it

Amazing story

I don’t know how I missed this shipwreck tale .
I am a sailor and have been At sea without food or water for long periods but not as long as these men endured in the desert. How they ever survived is just amazing.

Fascinating report of the ordeal

The book provides a fantastic recollection of Captain Rile’s experience, and a view of history from his perspective in that time.

an interesting book

I found learning about the culture of West African Arabs to be fascinating. in fact probably more fascinating than the story about James Riley's survival.

Worth it

Nice listen early Writings know with great illustrations. Irresistible and had to put it back down