Moorehead's book provides colorful portraits of the era's outsize explorers and soldiers, mostly British, many eccentric and all recklessly brave, obtaining the kind of celebrity later generations accorded rock stars and astronauts. Their success was spotty, but still significant given how entrenched the practice was.Īlan Moorehead's The White Nile is a lively, entertaining, occasionally dated narrative of the European exploration of Central Africa in the late 19th Century.
Breaking the practice of slavery involved a complex mix of Christian missionaries, war, famine, and the deliberate actions of a number of the explorers listed above. The slave trade was quite healthy in central Africa, and was wrapped up in the lifestyle of the Moslem populace. Lots of slaves, which is really what this book is about. Pygmies, cannibals, poison darts, jungle battles, quicksand, malaria, a murderous native chief who walks on his toes so he can imitate a lion, and slaves. Moorehead wraps all of this in some wonderfully descriptive prose that sounds, at times, like scenes from a Tarzan movie. What a crew! Richard Burton, who comes across as highly competitive, and a bit sinister John Speke, who would find the source of the Nile, but who would also die tragically (arguably, a suicide) on the eve of a debate with his foe, Burton the saintly Livingstone the soldier journalist (and rescuer), Stanley the determined and charismatic Mahdi, and, of course, Gordon, a Christian mystic, a soldier, a hero, and, to some, a madman. And that's rather amazing when you consider Moorhead's book is crammed with a real League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (and at least one remarkable woman: Lady Florence Baker). After that, the figure of General Charles "Chinese" Gordon, and the siege of Khartoum dominates the book. Just outstanding, though I think the "White Nile" part of the story fades quickly after the first 75 pages or so. Hours of business: Mon-Fri 10 to 6 Number 46 is at the northern end of Shepherd Market, formerly the location of Shepherds bindery, a five minute walk from Green Park tube station (Jubilee, Victoria and Piccadilly lines) and only slightly more from Bond Street station."I am here, like iron." -Major-General Charles "Chinese" Gordon We also display a selection of stock at our Mayfair shop: 46 Curzon Street Number 48 is on the south side of Bedford Square, a five minute walk from Totten ham Court Road or Goodge Street underground stations and a ten minute walk from Russell Square. Great Britain Hours of business: Mon-Fri 9:30 to 5
Our primary address is our Bloomsbury shop: Stock Code: 230366 Members of: Antiquarian Booksellers Association Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association International League of Antiquarian Booksellers Original cloth in slightly frayed dust wrapper, multiple tears and nicks. Numerous illustrations and a folding map.
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