Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone on + 1174 more book reviews
I read this book after reading Tim Butcher's Blood River which was about the author's journey to replicate Henry Mortan Stanley's journey to chart the Congo River in 1874-77. Into Africa does not give details of Stanley's journey on the Congo but is a very engaging telling of his journey to find Dr. David Livingstone in 1871-72. Livingstone was of course the Scottish explorer who with his travels in Africa between 1841 and 1863 shed a light on what was up to that point very uncharted territory of the "Dark Continent," Then in 1866, Livingstone set out to find the source of the Nile River after there was a dispute about it based on the explorations of Sir Richard Francis Burton and John Speke. Then Livingstone and his party disappeared somewhere between Zanzibar and Lake Tanganyika. He was reported as dead at one point but then reports came back that he was still alive in the uncharted area of central Africa.
Then newspaper correspondent Henry Morton Stanley was tasked by the New York Herald to try to find Stanley. Stanley set out from Zanzibar and for three years roamed around southeastern Africa on the trail of Livingstone who was rumored to be somewhere near Lake Tanganyika. Stanley fought through disease, native warriors, and terrible terrain and was in despair of ever finding Livingstone. But his perseverance prevailed and of course he did find him on the shores of Tanganyika in the trading post of Ujiji. This resulted in the famous quote "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
I enjoyed this narrative that really went into a lot of detail on Stanley's quest. The chapters alternate between what is happening to Livingstone and where Stanley is in trying to find him along with happenings from London and New York. This was a huge story at the time, one of the biggest during the Victorian period. I have another book on my TBR shelves that gives a more complete biography of Stanley called Dark Safari by John Bierman that I also hope to read sometime in the near future. I also have some unread books about Sir Richard Burton that I also may read soon. Blood River really piqued my interest in reading more about Africa especially its exploration in the 19th century.
Then newspaper correspondent Henry Morton Stanley was tasked by the New York Herald to try to find Stanley. Stanley set out from Zanzibar and for three years roamed around southeastern Africa on the trail of Livingstone who was rumored to be somewhere near Lake Tanganyika. Stanley fought through disease, native warriors, and terrible terrain and was in despair of ever finding Livingstone. But his perseverance prevailed and of course he did find him on the shores of Tanganyika in the trading post of Ujiji. This resulted in the famous quote "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
I enjoyed this narrative that really went into a lot of detail on Stanley's quest. The chapters alternate between what is happening to Livingstone and where Stanley is in trying to find him along with happenings from London and New York. This was a huge story at the time, one of the biggest during the Victorian period. I have another book on my TBR shelves that gives a more complete biography of Stanley called Dark Safari by John Bierman that I also hope to read sometime in the near future. I also have some unread books about Sir Richard Burton that I also may read soon. Blood River really piqued my interest in reading more about Africa especially its exploration in the 19th century.
Joan S. (Yoni) reviewed Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone on + 327 more book reviews
Thi book is fantastic! So well researched, rich in geography, history, and humanity. I found every bit of it fascinating. Stanley and Livingstone come alive. This story has always interested me, and I am so glad to have read this wonderful book.
