| Guide Picks - Top 6 African Explorers and Exploration Books | ||
| A handful of explorer and exploration books which includes the biographies of two of the most famous explorers, Burton and Stanley; as well as the journal of Mary Kingsley, the greatest of all woman explorers (modern women are just travel writers in comparison). Galton's "Art of Travel" exposes the expectations and prejudices of Victorian adventurers, Grogan's biography reveals one man's involvement in the development of colonial Kenya (as well as his pioneering trip from Cape Town to Cairo), and Portuguese Voyages details the earliest of European explorations on the African continent. | ||
1) Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton by Edward Rice
Richard Burton was an outstanding Victorian figure, who's achievements are described in delightful and absorbing detail. An excellent book about an incredible explorer.Paperback, published by Da Capo Press, 2001, ISBN 0-30681028-X.
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2) The Art of Travel (1872) by Francis Galton
Discover exactly what Victorian travelers thought about indigenous 'savages', what kind of equipment they would take with them, how they would organise an expedition, and what type of weapons they used. Galton's book was a Victorian best-seller, and should be an essential companion to any book on colonial exploration.Paperback, published by Phoenix Press, 2001, ISBN 1-84212-209-6.
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3) Travels in West Africa by Mary Kingsley Recounting an encounter with a crocodile who "chose to get his front paws over the stern of my canoe, and endeavoured to improve our acquaintance," Mary Kingsley found she had to "retire to the bows... and fetch him a clip on the snout with a paddle." This is an captivating account of "One Woman's Epic and Eccentric Journey in the 1890s." Paperback, published by Phoenix Press, 2001, ISBN 1-84212-110-3.
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4) Dark Safari: The Life Behind the Legend of Henry Morton Stanley by John Bierman The definitive biography of the larger-than-life figure of Henry Morton Stanley. This book is an entrancing read, full of the perils of African exploration and the dire consequences of colonial African politics. There isn't much material in-print on Stanley, and if you see a copy of this book you buy it (before anyone else sees it). Hardback, published by Alfred A Knopf, 1990, ISBN 0-394-58342-6.
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5) Portuguese Voyages, 1498–1663: Tales from the Great Age of Discovery edited by C D Ley This is a great collection of accounts which are otherwise hard to obtain, with four of the seven sections of this book are of particular relevance to the exploration of Africa. The shipwreck accounts, especially, are detailed and graphic, and give a fascinating view of early European exploration of Africa. Paperback, published by Phoenix Press, 2001, ISBN 1-84212-109-X.
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6) Lost Lion of Empire: The Life of 'Cape-to-Cairo' Grogan by Edward Paige If you read this book mainly for Grogan's traverse of the continent, you'll be disappointed to find it covers only some 60 pages. But you should remember that this is a book about his life's achievements, although only someone with a serious interest in the ins and outs of Kenyan colonial politics will finish reading it. Hardback, published by HarperCollins, 2001, ISBN 0-00-257003-3.
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