author
James Sibree
1836–1929
A missionary, architect, and writer, he spent decades in Madagascar and turned close observation into vivid books on the island’s people, history, and natural world. His work blends travel writing, scholarship, and firsthand experience from a period of major change.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Hull, England, in 1836, James Sibree first went to Madagascar in 1863 with the London Missionary Society as an architect. He was sent to supervise the building of memorial churches in Antananarivo, and his work there grew into a long connection with the island.
After further training, he returned as a missionary and remained closely involved with Madagascar for many years, apart from a shorter period in India. Alongside his religious work, he became known as a careful observer of Malagasy life, history, and landscape, and he contributed to writing and revision work in the Malagasy language.
Sibree is remembered today mainly for the many books he wrote about Madagascar, including works on its history, customs, flora, fauna, and missions. Those books gave English-speaking readers a detailed picture of the island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and they still make him an important witness to that world.