Mississippi Solo: A River Quest

By Eddy L. Harris

Book Overview

"A wonderful book--and a highly original contribution to the literature of travel."
--Paul Theroux, author of The Great Railway Bazaar

Since the publication of his first book, Mississippi Solo, Eddy L. Harris has been praised for his travel writing. In this exciting reissue of his classic travelogue, readers will come to treasure the rich insightful prose that is as textured as the Mississippi River itself. They will be taken by the hand by an adventurer whose lifelong dream is to canoe the length of this mighty river, from Minnesota to New Orleans. The trip's dangers were legion for a Black man traveling alone, paddling from "where there ain't no black folks to where they still don't like us much." Barge waives loom large, wild dogs roam the wooded shores, and, in the Arkansas dusk, two shotgun-toting bigots nearly bring the author's dream to a bloody end. Sustaining him through the hard weeks of paddling were the hundreds of people who reached out to share a small piece of his challenge. Mississippi Solo is a big, rollicking, brilliant book, a wonderful piece of American adventure, and an unforgettable story of a man testing his own limits.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805059032
• ISBN13: 9780805059038
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Enjoyed the journey

An enjoyable read and journey down the river. Thought it was going to be a day to day river trip but was more. Almost put the book away after first few chapters but am glad I didn't . Enjoyed his look at life, himself and people along the river. Race added another dimension to a tough journey. But i was left with a good feeling when done. Nice life lessons scattered thru-out the book.

Read it in two days; enjoyed it

I bought this book to read on a business trip that involved cross country flights. Did not read it on the trip. Started it the night I got back and read half of it when I really should have been sleeping. Finished it the next night. He transforms and you want to see it happen. He has doubts about completing his trip and you want to see if he will finish it. He has his troubles and you want to see if they get worse. You want to know more about the people he meets. Sometimes he says twice things that he could say once, but it's ok because it moves along. There is some historical perspective, some thoughts on racism, not too much. I would have liked to know more about what he brought with him and what he really needed, but he's not that kind of outdoor guy. He says at the end that his back was never the same. Was there something he could have done to avoid that? He does not say. It's ultimately ok because he sticks to the narrative and that holds your interest.

Quality Writing

I bought a copy of this book after my own canoe trip down the Mississippi. It was fascinating to compare the experiences of Mr. Harris to my own.The writing is perceptive, insightful, and entertaining. His observations of the people he met along the river, and himself, come across as very honest. He doesn't portray himself as a hero or an expert, but as the person he really is. His dedication to completing the journey is tenuous, but his appreciation for the lasting value of the experience is sincere.His perceptions on racial issues were objective and refreshing. Although he had preconceived notions on what he might encounter, (a black man in Nordic northern Minnesota and later in the Deep South) he judged people based on how they treated him, and the vast majority of people treated him with kindness and respect.His descriptions of the river, towns, weather and scenery are also enjoyable, and the hardships and joys are described with equal eloquence. I was impressed how such a greenhorn of an outdoorsman would have the boldness to tackle such an adventure. My only disappointment with the book is when he skipped some parts of the river. It was his journey to make, however, and he is honest about any shortcuts he took.In short, this is a great book. It is worth reading to experience the journey vicariously and for the writing itself. You won't be disappointed.

What a great book!

I found this book at a used bookstore while looking for travel books to read on vacation. What a great book! I'm fascinated by the water and enjoyed the description of his trip down the Mississipi river, but I enjoyed even more seeing how a person who wasn't an outdoorsman or even an experienced boater took on this adventure. His experience with people along the way made me feel at the end that I would enjoy sharing a campfire with him and most of the people he met. Except for the rednecks with guns that is.

An allegory of his youth to manhood.

I read this after his 2nd book that traveled through Africa. It's allegorical structure and content is remarkable. He borrowed nearly everything and took a chance navigating the "mighty Mississip". He traveled the entire length encountering all aspects of Americana. From the poor shanties to large cities. From people living near the river to those working on it and those living on it. He encountered nature, people, life, and God on his trip. The latter was evident one Sunday when he'd lost track of the days. His description riveled meeting God in person. His described joy at having discovered God's announcement to him was inspirational. By the time he reached New Orleans and poured out his brandy to the river, my arms ached from paddling all the way with him. He writes with such an abundance of love, optimism, sadness, anger, but never hatred. Who needs fiction with Eddy Harris writing about his travels so clearly and so beautifully.