River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile

Author: Candice Millard Format: Hardback Number of Pages: 368 A story of courage and adventure, set against the backdrop of the race to exploit Africa by the colonial powers. For millennia the location of the Nile River's headwaters was shrouded in mystery. In the mid-19th century, Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke were sent by the Royal Geographical Society to claim the prize for Britain. Burton spoke twenty-nine languages, and was a decorated soldier. He was also mercurial, subtle, and...Read more