I’m not sure these two needed to be remembered.

This was scrupulously researched, as all her books are, but I had hard time engaging with the narrative, which was a bit meandering and tangential. Some fascinating bits of history and the bios and feud between explorers were interesting, but really had to push to finish this one.

A story of two extraordinary men and the punishments they put themselves through to map out areas of Africa.

It was interesting how much it was a different time with different attitudes, and yet the drives and petty slights that make up character seem completely modern. I found it amusing when they talked of "discovering" a particular lake, but when they arrive there is already a well-established trading center. Obviously, they just meant "mapped out for white Europeans." Still, the hardships they endured while taking a difficult route were real, and would have been daunting for anyone.

It's not exactly a "thrilling adventure tale," but it is a fascinating look at two men accomplishing a perilous task and the toll they both paid.

Candace Millard is my favorite biographer. This follows the stories of Burton, Speke and Bombay explorers financed by the Royal Geographic society in the late 1800s of which seems ridiculously perilous and painful.

I appreciated the focus on Bombay as I have always wondered about the stories of the hired guides in the accounts of European explorers and how it is likely their accomplishments surpass that of those they are guiding (which seems to be so in this case). I also appreciated the details about Isabel, Burtons wife, and the cognitive dissonance she seems to have had in having her own desires and ambitions that didn't align with her culture and how she went about achieving them as much as possible while maintaining her social status.

I loved Millard's "Destiny of the Republic" and gave it five stars. I had high hope for this one too, especially after recently reading "King Leopold's Ghost." I had hoped this title would combine the best things of both books (compelling subject, brilliant author). But...

That never really happened. This one was a slog for me, although it feels whiny to say so, when compared to what the explorers and caravans faced as they sought to answer the old question about where the Nile's source could be found. It just really should have been riveting reading and somehow it wasn't.

I think this book didn't really know what it was supposed to be: a celebration of Richard Burton, adventurer extraordinare, man's-man, man of the world, earthy, brilliant linguist, everlasting taunter of Victorian norms? A refutation of John Speke and his narrow, selfish, proud, and misguided views on pretty much everything? Isabel Arundell Burton is fairly ridiculous as pictured in these pages but it was news to me that Burton ever married anyway. (That's on me. All I knew about R.B. before reading this was that he was an explorer and translated Arabian Nights into English, including any and all naughty parts.)

Basically everyone in this tale does not come off well, with the exception of Sidi Mubarak Bombay. So maybe I would have preferred a story with him as the center instead of part of a trifecta (in this case, Burton-Speke-Bombay. Also, I suspect Millard has a bit of a crush on Burton. What is it about this dude that makes him so mesmeric even so long after his death?).

So, for me this was not a page-turner. But Millard does write well and it's well-researched so it would be a good source for a novelist wanting a dynamic set of characters and an implausible setting for a murder mystery in Victorian times.

Also, it did end up intersecting with "King Leopold's Ghost" a bit, if only because Henry Morton Stanley makes an appearance and carving up Africa was a huge motivation in mapping the continent. (Hint: the Europeans didn't want accurate maps just for educational purposes. Mapping somewhere is the first stage of conquering somewhere. And P.S. for Christians: ever wonder how "The Curse of Ham" racist myth took hold? You can give partial credit to Mr. John Hanning Speke. Find out why within these pages.)