Did book on a very colourful gap year in Africa tell white lies?
Anger at Zambia memoirs
IT tells the dramatic story of a brave young Scot hiding from machete-wielding rebels while volunteering in Zambia.
But actress Louise Linton has been labelled a ‘delusional white woman’ after the publication of her memoir, which some critics have accused of being embellished.
The 35-year-old from edinburgh, whose family own Melville Castle in Midlothian, lives in Los angeles and has appeared in films starring Tom Cruise and robert redford.
She took time out of her acting career to write and self-publish In Congo’s Shadow: One Girl’s Perilous Journey To The heart of africa.
The 290-page book, billed as ‘the inspirsuch ing memoir of an intrepid teenager who abandoned her privileged life in Scotland’ dates back to when Miss Linton was 18 and spent six months near Lake Tanganyika.
It tells of a terrifying time when armed rebels descended on the area, entering the country from neighbouring Congo, and forcing Miss Linton to hide for fear of being murdered or raped.
however, her account has been questioned by readers both in africa and the UK.
even those who say they were with her at the time claim there are inaccuracies and insist Miss Linton was actually staying in a ‘luxury’ lodge.
One reader on social media said his 60-year-old stepmother, who has lived in Zambia since the age of 18, has ‘never heard’ of any rebels. Others said that there are no ‘12-inch spiders’ as she claims, and some have pointed out that Linton writes about the monsoon season – which Zambia does not have.
The news site Okayafrica carried the headline: ‘delusional white woman Louise Linton draws ire of african Twitter for egregious “Zambian memoir”.’
and on amazon, where the book has a one star rating, a reader wrote: ‘Would be funny if it wasn’t so horrifyingly patronising and untrue. The Zambia she describes has simply never existed.’
The social media storm erupted after an excerpt from the book was published by The Telegraph. describing what happened to her as a teenager, the actress wrote: ‘Gunshots echoed through the bush and seemed to be getting closer. I couldn’t imagine the awful, sporadic acts of violence that were being committed as the village was ransacked.
‘Fear and anger for the children consumed my thoughts.’
also included were photos of Miss Linton with children, with
‘Delusional white woman draws ire’
one showing her holding a little girl described as a six-year-old orphan with hIV.
Craig Zytkow, who runs a lodge in the area, says he remembers Miss Linton from her time in Zambia but does not recognise her description of the place. he said: ‘I have spent most of my life living on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Nothing like what she describes ever happened here.’
Mr Zytkow said that surrendering drC (democratic republic of Congo) troops did cross the border in the year she was there, but they did so peacefully.
a woman, who asked not to be named, said she worked at a luxury lodge in Zambia at the same time as Miss Linton was there.
‘Louise never lived in a village. She lived in luxury in one of our chalets. eventually we had to release her from completing her time with us early. She wasn’t happy here.’
Last night Miss Linton’s father, William hay, defended his daughter’s account.
‘as far as I can remember of what she said on her return, that was the situation,’ he said. ‘The place was raided. I think the gamekeeper was shot dead.’
Mr hay did, however, suggest that the manuscript of the book was changed. he added: ‘She was really quite disappointed and embarrassed.’
Miss Linton could not be contacted for comment, but wrote on Twitter: ‘I am genuinely dismayed and very sorry to see that I have offended people as this was the very opposite of my intent. I wrote with the hope of conveying my deep humility, respect and appreciation for the people of Zambia as an 18-yearold in 1999.’