"what is so memorable and indeed magical is the way he interweaves the imaginary and the real"
— The Guardian
"It is unlikely that a finer travel book will be published all year"
— Literary Review
"The river itself has come to epitomise Colombia, the “vital artery of commerce and culture”"
— Financial Times
"a journey down Colombia's river of dreams"
— The Guardian
"the distinctive dry humour familiar to his television audiences finds plenty of opportunities to emerge"
— Times Literary Supplement
"'This truly is a marvellous book.'"
— The Scotsman
"A doctor's odyssey is a reminder of the trials and wonders of solitude. "
— New Statesman
"combines memoir from a lifetime of travel ... and reflections on how islands illuminate his own life and the human condition"
— The Guardian
"(a) piercing yet affectionate portrait of lives on the communist island"
— Financial Times
"DePalma’s book is overflowing with warmth and humanity — much like the Cuban people."
— The Times