Drink the Bitter Root is an international story about the ethical and environmental footprint world nations are leaving in Africa in their determined efforts to destabilize and loot the continent. In the spirit of Robert Kaplan and Samantha Power, Gary Geddes sets out in search of justice, healing and reconciliation. He begins his journey at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, then travels to Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Somaliland, crossing Lake Victoria and the Great Rift Valley, where human life began.
Geddes’s quest takes the form of an intimate personal travelogue. Although he confronts the dark realities of abduction, rape, mutilation and murder, drawing on painful encounters, interviews and adventures that occur along the way, Geddes also brings back amazing stories of survival and unexpected moments of grace. His poet's eye and self-deprecating humor draw us ever more deeply into the lives of some amazing Africans, while never forgetting the complicity we all feel in the face of tragic events unfolding there.
In the words of author and Africanist Ian Smillie, Drink the Bitter Root is not only poignant, literate and funny, but also “a deeply textured journey without maps into the unexplored rifts of sub-Saharan Africa, the human experience, and the psyche. It’s also the masterful handling of a full palette.”
Industry Reviews
"Geddes’ style mixes political reportage, history, travel, cultural analysis and personal memoir. Yet it’s not an overly graphic, ravaging read. Instead, it’s told with lyrical description, humility and even humour...Part of what makes Drink the Bitter Root accessible and relatable is the fact that the ignorance Geddes confronts is not only external -- of places, people and politics -- but internal: about himself."—Focus Online, Sep 9, 2011
"A writer that truly believes that literature has the ability to change the world for the better, Geddes has produced a work well worth reading for both its content and its call to action."—Quill & Quire, Sep 1, 2011
"Drink the Bitter Root has an esoteric quality, which is not surprising given Geddes' background as a poet. But this time he aims for realism and literal accuracy. He largely succeeds through the graphic accounts offered by his interviewees."—Winnipeg Free Press, Aug 13, 2011
“Gary Geddes travels to the African places of war and anguish, where he explores the meaning of justice and forgiveness on the ground. This is an indispensable work for anyone wanting to understand the truth about crimes against humanity, and what can be done about them.”—Erna Paris, author of The Sun Climbs Slow, Aug 11, 2011
"A splendid piece of work that brought back many memories, some I'd tried hard to bury, but also all the light and joy of Africa." —Jonathan Manthorpe, Foreign Affairs Editor, Vancouver Sun, Jul 11, 2011
