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Explorers Of The Nile: The Triumph And Tragedy Of A Great Victorian Adventure (2011)

by Tim Jeal(Favorite Author)

3.67 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0300149352 (ISBN13: 9780300149357)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Yale University Press

review 1: Excellent. Well researched, well paced, and accessibly and entertainly written. A fascinating account, with quite a number of new bits of research - Burton & Speke in particular. The writing is both punchy, informative, and often evocative without ever coming near flowery. The chapters on Livingston and Stanley - both of whom the author has written individual biographies of, are particularly good (I suspect these were the 'edited highlights'. He gives the political background well too, a nuanced picture that does not shy away from the massive racism and patronising benevolence of the Imperialists and missionaries, with the determination and views of the explorers that means they remain sympathetic. Brilliant.
review 2: This is an academic read since Jeal ... morehas researched his subject and unearthed new sources. He is at pains to point this out at the beginning and how Moorehead was inaccurate with some information. Is this necessary? In the same tone, the emnity between Speke and Burton is described in detail and given inoodinate attention. Theri characters are black and white for Jeal who is determined to set the record straight about Seke and portray Burton as the arch villain. Burton is a schemer and Speke is constantly being thwarted by the other man's jealousy and sabotage. While this may be partly true, credit must also be given to Burton for leading the first expedition to Lake Tanganika.The Geography can be confusing if you don't know the area and it is a good idea to have an atlas at hand.Neveretheless,the hardships and dangers of the five main explorers of the Nile - Livingstone, Speke, Burton, Baker and Stanley - are gripping. Some were so ill they had to be carried by porters for months through tall grassland, muddy swamps, hostile territory.Their expeditions are set against the backdrop of the brutal, widespread slave-trade which Livingstone campaigned against.In the final chapters of the book,Jeal outlines the difficulties faced by East and Central African countries whose borders were drawn up under colonial rule. This is an informative, heavy read. less

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