I listened to this on audio (Librivox) and read the ebook. If you enjoy this type of wit as I do then you will probably love this book, but if you expect modern pacing, characterization, and plot, you might be bored with it instead. The comedy on and off the river is interspersed with some passages of purple prose here and there, too. It might help somewhat to have a map of the country if you are unfamiliar with it, but I don't think it is essential.