Hello to the Cannibals is such an expansive book—it sits at around 660 pages. It’s about a young girl named Lily Austin who yearns to travel the world.
Lily Austin is mature, intelligent, and incredibly insightful for a young girl. One her 14th birthday, she receives a biography about Mary Kingsley—an adventurous woman who traveled all over the world during the 1800s.
For the next 10 years of her life, Lily basically drowns herself in everything-Mary Kingsley. She even leans on this historical figure for comfort and inspiration during her own hard times.
Descended from playwrights, Lily also decides to write a play featuring Mary Kingsley as the main character. The book jumps back and forth between Lily’s life and Mary’s life, until Mary’s early death toward the end.
Lily is presented as an intelligent, bright young woman, but her life choices aren’t as intelligent or impressive. Mary is so witty and smart, and I hoped these characteristics would rub off more on Lily, but this just isn’t the case. Mary is far more modern and adventurous than Lily, who seems more lazy and old-fashioned. I was more impressed with Mary than with Lily.
I’m so sad to say that the synopsis of Hello to the Cannibals is much more interesting than the book itself. It isn’t exactly boring, per se, but the outcome isn’t satisfactory, and the book is far too long. It’s not worth your time.
The full name of this book is actually Hello to the Cannibals: A Novel of a Woman Finding Bravery in a Victorian Explorer’s Inspiring Legacy. Richard Bausch has also written these books:
- Peace (2008)
- Before, During, After (2014)
- Playhouse (2023)
What did you think about Hello to the Cannibals? Have you read anything else by this author?
Last Updated on February 19, 2026 by Sarah Ann
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