The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Western Cape Branch invites you to a book launch by Tim Butcher, Author of ‘Chasing the Devil: The Search for Africa's Fighting Spirit’ .

Chasing the Devil is a dramatic travel book touching on one of the most fraught parts of the globe at a unique moment in its history. Weaving history and anthropology with personal narrative – as well as new discoveries about Graham Greene – it is as exciting as it is enlightening.

The bestselling author of Blood River ventures into Sierra Leone and Liberia in the footsteps of Graham Greene...

For many years Sierra Leone and Liberia have been too dangerous to travel through, bedevilled by a uniquely brutal form of violence from which sprang many of Africa’s cruellest contemporary icons – child soldiers, prisoner mutilation, and blood diamonds.

With their wars officially over, Tim Butcher sets out on a journey across both countries, trekking for 350 miles through remote rainforest and malarial swamps.

Born in 1967, Tim Butcher was on the staff of the Daily Telegraph from 1990 to 2009 serving as chief war correspondent, Africa bureau chief and Middle East correspondent.His first book, Blood River, was a number one bestseller, a Richard & Judy Book Club selection and was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize. He is currently based in Cape Town with his family.

Copies of Chasing the Devil will be on sale following the event.

Entrance for SAIIA members is free, and for non-members is R30 or R15 on presentation of a current student identity card.

Date: Wednesday 24 November 2010,

Time: 17h45

Venue: the Centre for the Book, 62 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens, Cape Town.

Parking is freely available behind the building after 5pm.

Please RSVP (as space is limited) to saiia.admin@telkomsa.net or call Pippa on 021 761 4842 or 083 3052339

Refreshments will be served after the event.