The Life and African Exploration of David Livingstone

In this book, some unnamed author has taken flattering excerpts from Livingstone’s journal and interspersed them with narration and commentary. I can assure you the writer never traveled with Livingstone and probably never even met him. It is a hatchet job of Livingstone’s own writing produced for the mass market of the day.The journal this book is plagiarized from is available on Amazon. It is full of minutiae, names, places, observations, and consequently difficult to read.I’ve read about 10 Livingstone books. The best I’ve come across is by Tim Jeal. It is not flattering, but it is well researched and very interesting.Don’t miss Stanley’s “How I Found Livingstone,” in which Stanley says nice things about Livingstone while writing the difficult truth in his personal journal.

This is an interesting book, with many quotations from the great explorer, including 100 or so pages of his last journal entries (with minimal and helpful editorial comments).It has some fascinating comments from the anonymous author, including details regarding the Sahara's sub-marine past (existence, in the nineteenth century Sahara, of fossils of contemporary forms of marine life, and great areas of salt flats), and also later intimations of lost civilisations beneath the great desert's sands.However, not all of the book's 640 pages, by any means, are direct quotes from the missionary/explorer, which I felt I was led to expect.The book is, nevertheless, a fascinating volume originally published in 1874, just one year after Livingstone's death. It contains generous extracts from the associated writings of American journalist Stanley, and of contemporary explorers/hunters. It is, therefore, well worth the read and a good first volume for those interested in Livingstone and/or the Africa of his days. I was especially intrigued by the accounts of the various native tribes and native villages Livingstone met with. I also enjoyed reading of the geology, geography, and zoology of the continent.

I bought this book expecting to be primarily reading Livingstone's own writings, with editorials to help interpret them (note that the author is shown as Livingstone). I am currently about 1/3 through the book and, so far, perhaps 1% of the text is from Livingstone and the rest is by an anonymous author summarizing Livingstone's life and explorations in rather dated 19th century language. While there is detail (locations, names of African chiefs), the detail lacks the depth to engage the reader or offer more than a superficial overview of his movements. The (actual) author spends a lot of time lauding the various characteristics of Livingstone (and the telegraph), but what I'd really like to know is what life was like for Livingstone himself and hear in his own words tales of his adventures. Other than the names of some of the tribes and leaders he worked with, a general sense for his movements, and a few adventures told in the (actual) author's words, I feel generally ignorant of Livingstone's actual work in Africa. Unless you are looking for a reading adventure in 19th century writing (for which this might be interesting) I would recommend finding a more modern book on Livingstone, which I wish I had purchased. I will amend this review if the rest of the book picks up.

A good historical perspective, but a slow read. Very detailed. I recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about Africa.

It is a good sized book. There are many great illustrations.

I never realized the depth of what Davis Livingstone did until I read about him. it is soul wrenching and will keep your attention, to will come to know a man of God with feet on the ground.

This book came quickly and is in perfectly good condition. It is a must-have for those people who enjoy reading about the many difficulties and victories experienced by a true world-changer!

A good book.

Bought as a present for a work colleague who loves Africa. Went down a treat as he loved it and now can't wait for his holiday to be able to get stuck into it. Arrived fast which was good too.

I am lucky to have the book as I am an avid lover of books.