The Gardens of Mars : Madagascar, an Island Story

'A beautifully written depiction of the history of this beguiling island' Literary Review

'Courageous, exploratory, humane and with a wry sense of humour' Spectator

We think we know Madagascar but it's too big, too eccentric, and too impenetrable to be truly understood. A journey – both historical and contemporary – among the fantastical landscapes, resourceful inhabitants and isolated tribes of the world's fourth-largest island, this is an exploration of a place of enduring fascination for its rich biodiversity.

Visiting every corner of the island, John Gimlette journeys deep into Madagascar's past, meeting politicians, sorcerers, gem prospectors, militiamen, rioters, lepers and the descendants of seventeenth-century pirates along the way.

Insightful and wryly humorous, here's an encounter with the people, landscapes, politics and history of one of the most remarkable places on Earth.