JUST BEFORE THE DAWN is a ‘snap-shot’ of four former African colonies as they approached independence at the end of the 1950s. It is also a travel book based on the author’s experience and adventures whilst living and working at that time in Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Ruanda-Urundi (as they were then called) and Kenya. The book touches on those countries’ differing histories, both ancient and recent. It also offers the reminiscences of an elderly man pondering his first experiences of the worlds of work, and of love. The book’s leitmotif is dawn, along with its challenges: the coming dawn of change in those four countries, and in the author’s personal life. Additionally, he describes the magnificent dawn he experienced while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, as seen on this cover.Some of the comments on the author’s book on Russia:‘A calm and objective witness for the truth’ – John Le Carré‘It affords twin pleasures of content and style’ – a reader in France‘An excellent book’ – Lord Wright of Richmond, former Head of the Diplomatic Service‘A fascinating account of conflicts and tensions’ – The Church Times‘Extraordinarily observant’ – Andrei Voznesensky, poet
After reading Russian at Merton College, Oxford, John C Q Roberts worked in Africa and Europe with Shell International for four years. He then spent a decade teaching foreign languages at Marlborough College. From there, in 1974, he was recruited to an official public post in Russo-British cultural relations. An account of his two decades as Director of the Great Britain-USSR Association and the Britain-Russia Centre was the subject of his book Speak Clearly into the Chandelier.
The author was awarded literary prizes in Russia following the appearance of his book there in translation.
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7 reviews
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I've just read this book, which I enjoyed. I had no idea John had climbed Kilimanjaro! What an evocation of East Africa before independence (and mass tourism). Also, he's quite a pioneer of color photography.
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Matthew Parris The Times Columnist
Thank you so much for your beautiful little book which has just reached me via The Times and which may by now have been published. As it happens I am off to east Africa on Christmas Eve and hoping to take the train from Dar Es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia so I shall have something to read! I wish you all success with the publication
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This delightful book of a man's touching reminiscences of his youth is a gem.
The author conjures up a picture of himself as a young man in post-war Britain. In 1957, he gets a job with an oil major and is soon posted, with minimal preparation, to East Africa on the eve of decolonization.
It is a fascinating picture of another world. Before leaving Britain for colonial Africa, he has to go to Savile Row to acquire his "gentleman's tropical wardrobe" including white shorts and long white stockings. For evening dress, the uniform is a white Tuxedo jacket, "a glamorous luxury, then only known to me from Hollywood films".
His first postings are in Tanganyika and then Zanzibar (the predecessors of today's Tanzania). Getting there required four flights and, once arrived, communications with headquarters were scant.
Within a few weeks, his managing director calls him in and castigates him for "associating with the natives". The author sticks to his principles, reports the conversation, and the boss is soon replaced. The "winds of change" were on the horizon.
Later posted to Kenya, he describes, with a light sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye, many personal challenges, not least scaling the north side of Kilimanjaro without oxygen, guides or porters.
A sensitive and acute observer of people and places, he shares with the reader thoughtful comments on the society of the time which shed a new perspective on the East Africa of today. The beautiful descriptions of nature are accompanied by color photos that he took himself.
In summary, this is a unique glimpse into a time gone by; but thanks to this short volume, not been forgotten.
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I lent your book to a friend over Christmas, she has family ties to Kenya and I thought she would enjoy reading it. This is what she had to say:
Thank you so much for the loan of Just Before The Dawn; it's such a lovely book to read and I half expected to see a photo with either my grandparents or parents in it! The African 'trail' that John Roberts took was very similar to my family in Kenya and Tanzania and so many places he mentions I know very well...
A fascinating and enjoyable little book for anyone to read. If you're in contact with John, I'd be grateful if you'd pass on my thanks for transporting me back 'home' for a while!
Brenda
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J’ai reçu ce matin ce livre, et je l’ai lu avec beaucoup de plaisir.
Tous ces souvenirs d’une époque à la fois si proche et si lointaine m’ont touché car nous avons tous ( nous les plus de 80 ans ) des souvenirs d’un monde disparu .
Mais ses souvenirs d’aventures en Afrique , au Kilimandjaro, et au Kenya sont très intéressants et révèlent l’homme d’action et le diplomate que l’auteur a été.
I received this book this morning, and I read it with great pleasure.
All these memories of a time both so near and so far touched me because we all (we over 80) have memories of a vanished world.
But his memories of adventures in Africa, Kilimanjaro, and Kenya are very interesting and reveal the man of action and the diplomat that the author was.
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Roland Smith CMG, former British Ambassador to Ukraine
Thank you again for sending Katherine and me a copy of your book "Just before the dawn", which I have just finished reading. I found it fascinating, partly because this was a period of your life about which I knew absolutely nothing, and partly because of my interest in reading about what life was like in late-colonial Africa. From my teenage and student years, I remember some of the British political debates about colonial policy and the process of granting independence to countries like Kenya and Tanganyika (as well as the events which led to Zanzibar being incorporated into what then became Tanzania. But that was all very much the Westminster end of things - I loved reading about your experiences on the ground. Incidentally, I also loved the rather casual way the paragraphs about your parents' visit turned out to be leading up to your wedding! But you had at least already introduced us to your bride-to-be.
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John Robert’s book, Just Before The Dawn, was a vivid read. Robert’s voice comes across as himself, charming, personal and down to earth, and it feels like you are sitting with him as he tells you about these extraordinary experiences he has had.
The book brings a heady mix of images of beautiful places, exciting wildlife, sense of adventure and finding love, alongside the great discomfort and sad realities of racism and political unrest; as well as a window into the life of someone with a career that takes them around the world in unpredictable ways.
A striking read and a snapshot of different parts of the world, at particular points in time, through a personal lense.
Well done John!
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