Product Description

David Livingstone was one of the supreme representatives of the British Empire; yet his career suffered many set-backs during his own lifetime and since his death his reputation has swung between extremes of adulation and dismissal. Were his epic journeys through Africa purely to save souls and counter the slave trade? Or were they the first steps towards bringing the peoples of Central Africa under the control of Europeans who would destroy their values and exploit them economically? Beyond these questions, there lies the puzzle of Livingstone's own character and its contradictions. Livingstone's career was certainly an extraordinary one. Born in poverty in Blantyre, Scotland, he educated himself by heroic endeavour, later proving himself to be a remarkable linguist and scientist. His missionary journeys brought him into contact with a wide range of African peoples, for whom he showed remarkable sympathy. This book is an account of Livingstone's life and his achievements.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #839320 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 274 pages

Review
'Andrew Ross's fresh and sympathetic study provides notable insights into Livingstone's views of Afticans, race and missionary enterprise.'

About the Author
ANDREW C.ROSS is Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Divinity, University of Edinburgh. His is author of 'A vision Betrayed: The Jesuits in Japan and China, 1549-1742' and 'Blantyre Mission and the Making of Modern Malawi'.