• The Road to Kalamata

  • By: Mike Hoare
  • Narrated by: Mike Hoare
  • Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (38 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Road to Kalamata  By  cover art

The Road to Kalamata

By: Mike Hoare
Narrated by: Mike Hoare
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Col. Mike Hoare describes how his 4 Commando supported Moise Tshombe's breakaway state of Katanga against both the UN forces, and the Baluba tribesmen who used poison arrows, pit traps, marijuana, spells, jungle drums...and even reorted to ritual torture and cannibalism.

©1989 Mike Hoare (P)2012 Mike Hoare

Critic reviews

"Mike Hoare...is the twentieth century's most famous mercenary soldier and, beleve it or not, the most literate, witty, touching writer on this dark and strange subject...." (Bill Guthrie, PhD and former executive editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine)

What listeners say about The Road to Kalamata

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Account

I've read all of Mike Hoare's books except the one about his boat and one he did on the Cathars. While I vehemently disagree with him on some of his politics and think him somewhat outdated, I have to admit that he's an excellent writer and narrator as well. In addition to providing this excellent account of events in the Congo just after independence, his use of language and humor is right up there among the best I've ever read. This account is also very insightful because he does not shy away from sef-criticism of some of his own actions. The entire thing reads like a movie and culminates with events that led him to be on the road to Kalamata. Excellent book if interested in military history or Congo/Zaire history.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Opinion

unfortunately Mike is dreary narrator
but with his knowledge and experience nobody can add the inside view.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Useful as a Historical Document

An unflinching and useful first-hand account of life in a mercenary company during the Katanga rebellion in the DR Congo. The details are both unexpected and interesting.

Unfortunately, the story being told, while believable and detailed, is only interesting as a historical document, not as an actual story.

Which is to say that this is useful as research, but not especially compelling.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!