Richard Grant is a British writer currently living in the Mississippi Delta. He is the author of three books, Crazy River: Exploration and Folly in East Africa (Free Press, 2011), God’s Middle Finger (Free Press, 2008),published in the UK as Bandit Roads, and American Nomads (Grove Press, 2003), published in the UK as Ghost Riders. In addition, he writes articles for magazines and newspapers, publishing regularly in the Telegraph magazine (UK), and Port. He is the writer, presenter and narrator of the television documentary American Nomads, broadcast on BBC4 in November 2011, and currently working on a documentary about tribal life in Ethiopia..
Crazy River
Announcing The Release Of Richard Grant’s Newest Book: “Crazy River”
“As he did in God’s Middle Finger, Grant takes us into a world where few willingly venture. His feverish journey from Zanzibar, down an uncharted river and into the broken heart of 21st century Africa is by turns funny, poignant, frightening and deeply disturbing. The future Grant shows us with such lucidity and compassion is one his predecessors, Stanley, Livingstone and Burton could never have envisioned.”
–John Vaillant, author of The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival
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Your documentary, American Nomads, is a masterpiece.
I’ve just started reading Crazy River and I wanted to know more about the author and that’s how I found this website. I just watched American Nomads. It was strangely moving and gave me a point of view towards the ‘wandering’ segments of society that I never had before. I’m so glad I saw it but now I must get back to what is one terrific and enlightening read!
The release date of ‘Crazy River’ in Germany is November 2012!! :/
Does anybody know if there was a autograph session or something like this in the USA with Richard Grant? Saludos
God’s Middle Finger reminded me of all the crazy things that I went through just to visit family in the region. If you would have told me that someone was going to do what he did I would have bet on him getting killed.Lucky bastard! Hay Richard, let me know if you want to go to Sinaloa.
Love your documentairy “American Nomads” just orderd the book to A master piece!!
Thanks for a great documentary,I hope you will continue to make more…..driving around the US in an SUV meeting interesting nomads must have been a great experience
If Crazy River is even half the quality of God’s Middle Finger, I’ll be happy. As soon as I finish re-reading it, I’m headed out to buy Crazy River.
Dear Richard,
Your documentary, American Nomads, has had the most profound effect on me. It’s one of the most beautiful, delicate pieces of film-making I’ve ever seen. I was lost in a dream world for an hour and a half; and my mind has meandered back there many times since. It has left a warming, long-lasting effect on me.
I’ve just ordered the accompanying book to the film and I’m relishing revisiting some of those places and some of those folk.
Thank you for opening my eyes wide and my mind wider. Please make some more films soon!
Best wishes on your future endeavours,
Sam Haslam
@Richard L: It’s not possible to finish re-reading the book God’s Middle Finger
You finish reading the last page and in the next moment you are at page 1, over and over again.
Your American Nomads doc was superb. I’m a too am a graduate in history – longing for an expansive scenery to travel amongst. The closest to it in the UK I’ve admired is the Cairngorms or Grampians, but to be amongst the highs and lows of the Western states is a dream ever rich in my imagination. If you threw together an autobiography of sorts about your work experience after Uni, moving to America, your move into writing from there, I’d be among the first to snap it up, admiration for all you do from the North of the UK.
Just finished Crazy River- really enjoyed how it was written, and could not put the book down! – must have been an amazing journey. I originally picked it up because of my interest in Zanzibar , but am now extremely interested in central and eastern Africa — cheers – looking forward to your Ethiopian doc
-adam
Mr Grant, your fascinating portrait of Africa brought me back there in so many ways. I remember why I loved it and why I hated it. Thinking about a return in 2014 to celebrate my 60th birthday. I mean, where else is there to go for adventure? Thanks for a great reading experience.
Hi Richard,
I would like to commend you for your work on American Nomads – quite simply the greatest documentary I’ve ever seen. Here’s wishing you all imaginable success with your future projects.
Anthony