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The Man Who Presumed: A Biography of Henry M. Stanley
“Enduring appeal. . . . [Farewell] has handled his material expertly, presenting it with freshness and vigor.” ― Library Journal Finding Dr. Livingston was only one of many exploits in the remarkable life of the great African explorer Henry M. Stanley. In a narrative that reads like a novel, Byron Farwell tells the story of this complex man who made a major contribution o the world’s knowledge. He describes his bitter childhood, his coming to America where he found a friend and a name, his service in the American Civil War, his African adventures, and his late but happy marriage.
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
41 people want to read
About the author
Byron Farwell
29 books27 followersFarwell graduated from Ohio State University and the University of Chicago (M.A., 1968). He served in World War II as a captain of engineers attached to the Mediterranean Allied Air Force in the British Eighth Army area and later also saw combat in the Korean War. He separated from the military after seven years of active duty.
As a civilian, he became director of public relations and director of administration for Chrysler International from 1959 to 1971. He also served three terms as mayor of Hillsboro, Virginia (1977-81).
He published articles in the New York Times, Washington Post, American Heritage, Harper's, Horizon, Smithsonian Magazine as well as serving as a contributing editor to Military History, World War II, and Collier's Encyclopedia. Farwell also published biographies of Stonewall Jackson, Henry M. Stanley, and Sir Richard Francis Burton.
He was a fellow of the MacDowell Colony and a member of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Literature.
Farwell gave his papers to the University of Iowa.
As a civilian, he became director of public relations and director of administration for Chrysler International from 1959 to 1971. He also served three terms as mayor of Hillsboro, Virginia (1977-81).
He published articles in the New York Times, Washington Post, American Heritage, Harper's, Horizon, Smithsonian Magazine as well as serving as a contributing editor to Military History, World War II, and Collier's Encyclopedia. Farwell also published biographies of Stonewall Jackson, Henry M. Stanley, and Sir Richard Francis Burton.
He was a fellow of the MacDowell Colony and a member of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Literature.
Farwell gave his papers to the University of Iowa.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 28, 2021
Henry M. Stanley is primarily famous for discovering Dr. Livingston. Yet this biography shows that Stanley was a great explorer in his own right.
Born out of wedlock to a Welsh woman, Stanley (originally John Rowlands) was handed over to a school for unwanted children at the age of four. There he suffered physical abuse, deprivation and emotional neglect.
When his mother came to the school, when Rowlands was nine, someone pointed her out as his mother. 9 year old John asked, "What's a mother?" He didn't know people had them. His mother approached him with a little boy and girl in each hand. These were his brother and sister. His mother kept the brother and left the sister. He never saw his mother again.
At the age of fifteen after a severe beating, Rowlands lost it and beat up the school master who was whipping him. He then ran away from the school, joined a ship and sailed for America.
On the ship he found he was little more than a slave, so at New Orleans, he jumped ship and looked for work.
Walking through the streets he came upon a man sitting in front of his shop reading the paper. This was Henry Hope Stanley, a man who longed for children and a son of his own, but was never able to have any. Rowlands approached him and asked if he was "wanting a boy", meaning someone to work in his shop.
Stanley was startled by the request and fulfilled it, both by hiring young John and adopting him as the son he always wanted. John Rowlands became Henry Morton Stanley.
Life was good and secure with his adopted father and mother, but then the Civil War broke out and he found himself fighting with the Confederate Army. At first he really didn't know what any of it was about, but he soon did. He was then captured and imprisoned by the Union Army, but his heart came to side with the Union, so soon he was fighting on the Union side.
But he fled fighting and after work on Merchant ships took off for New York City. After the war, he became a reporter for the New York Herald. He traveled extensively across Europe and Asia, reporting on various current events, such as the Ottoman Empire and various political transitions and events.
Finally, the editor of the Herald sent Stanley to Africa to discover whether the great explorer, David Livingston was still alive. This Stanley did and eventually found him, leading to the famous, "Dr. Livingston, I presume."
Stanley stayed with Livingston for three months and assisted him in mapping out parts of Africa. Afterward, Stanley left for England where he was feted and championed. He embarked on tours throughout Europe and North America, but meeting Livingston had altered him.
He believed in Livingston's mission to "civilize" Africa and soon embarked on his own expeditions. His goal was to open up the interior of Africa with highways and townships in order to thwart the Arab slave trade, which he abhorred. He also wanted to civilize the African tribes and put an end to their constant warring, inter-tribal enslavement and, last but not least, cannibalism. He believed that the European culture based on Christian morals was the way to achieve this goal.
There are appalling descriptions in this book of the utter lack of human compassion or value of human life by the Central African tribes. I would describe it, but it isn't for the faint of heart. I hope such atrocities no longer exist, although the Arab slave trade still exists today. Where's the outrage over that, Social Justice Warriors?
He cooperated with both English and German governments, although he later regretted the German involvement after the atrocities committed by King Leopold to African natives.
He spent his life devoted to taking up Livingston's cause and only returned to England when he became too ill to continue.
Stanley spent his final days, happily married (he met and married a wonderful woman when he was 49) and lived the next seventeen years with his wife on a house he and his wife built, adopted orphans and, even though chronically ill, lived happily until finally succumbing to the sicknesses he acquired in Africa, at the age of 66.
This, along with the Livingston biography are worthwhile reads for all history buffs and vicarious adventure seekers.
Born out of wedlock to a Welsh woman, Stanley (originally John Rowlands) was handed over to a school for unwanted children at the age of four. There he suffered physical abuse, deprivation and emotional neglect.
When his mother came to the school, when Rowlands was nine, someone pointed her out as his mother. 9 year old John asked, "What's a mother?" He didn't know people had them. His mother approached him with a little boy and girl in each hand. These were his brother and sister. His mother kept the brother and left the sister. He never saw his mother again.
At the age of fifteen after a severe beating, Rowlands lost it and beat up the school master who was whipping him. He then ran away from the school, joined a ship and sailed for America.
On the ship he found he was little more than a slave, so at New Orleans, he jumped ship and looked for work.
Walking through the streets he came upon a man sitting in front of his shop reading the paper. This was Henry Hope Stanley, a man who longed for children and a son of his own, but was never able to have any. Rowlands approached him and asked if he was "wanting a boy", meaning someone to work in his shop.
Stanley was startled by the request and fulfilled it, both by hiring young John and adopting him as the son he always wanted. John Rowlands became Henry Morton Stanley.
Life was good and secure with his adopted father and mother, but then the Civil War broke out and he found himself fighting with the Confederate Army. At first he really didn't know what any of it was about, but he soon did. He was then captured and imprisoned by the Union Army, but his heart came to side with the Union, so soon he was fighting on the Union side.
But he fled fighting and after work on Merchant ships took off for New York City. After the war, he became a reporter for the New York Herald. He traveled extensively across Europe and Asia, reporting on various current events, such as the Ottoman Empire and various political transitions and events.
Finally, the editor of the Herald sent Stanley to Africa to discover whether the great explorer, David Livingston was still alive. This Stanley did and eventually found him, leading to the famous, "Dr. Livingston, I presume."
Stanley stayed with Livingston for three months and assisted him in mapping out parts of Africa. Afterward, Stanley left for England where he was feted and championed. He embarked on tours throughout Europe and North America, but meeting Livingston had altered him.
He believed in Livingston's mission to "civilize" Africa and soon embarked on his own expeditions. His goal was to open up the interior of Africa with highways and townships in order to thwart the Arab slave trade, which he abhorred. He also wanted to civilize the African tribes and put an end to their constant warring, inter-tribal enslavement and, last but not least, cannibalism. He believed that the European culture based on Christian morals was the way to achieve this goal.
There are appalling descriptions in this book of the utter lack of human compassion or value of human life by the Central African tribes. I would describe it, but it isn't for the faint of heart. I hope such atrocities no longer exist, although the Arab slave trade still exists today. Where's the outrage over that, Social Justice Warriors?
He cooperated with both English and German governments, although he later regretted the German involvement after the atrocities committed by King Leopold to African natives.
He spent his life devoted to taking up Livingston's cause and only returned to England when he became too ill to continue.
Stanley spent his final days, happily married (he met and married a wonderful woman when he was 49) and lived the next seventeen years with his wife on a house he and his wife built, adopted orphans and, even though chronically ill, lived happily until finally succumbing to the sicknesses he acquired in Africa, at the age of 66.
This, along with the Livingston biography are worthwhile reads for all history buffs and vicarious adventure seekers.
September 28, 2023
A well researched and well written biography. A note of caution however, it was written in the 1950's and there is more than a hint of racial insensitivity the descriptive terms used for the African people.
April 1, 2011
Excellent book. Adventure at every turn of the page.
I'm still haunted at the prevalence of cannibals in the Congo during the 1880's. Not counting Stanley constantly being hunted for food by the natives, but the story of a 10-year-old slave girl being led into a tent with a group of people watching what was about to happen is horrifying. If a slave was lucky the slave was worked to death. If not he could become a human sacrifice or food or both.
I'm still haunted at the prevalence of cannibals in the Congo during the 1880's. Not counting Stanley constantly being hunted for food by the natives, but the story of a 10-year-old slave girl being led into a tent with a group of people watching what was about to happen is horrifying. If a slave was lucky the slave was worked to death. If not he could become a human sacrifice or food or both.
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May 7, 2021I've always loved the story of Stanley finding Livingston. Who knew that Stanley was actually born in Wales and abandoned by his family? That "Henry Morton Stanley" was actually the name of a man who became a father figure to Stanley after he arrived in America? That Stanley later deserted the Confederate army and then the Union army as well? An interesting life before he even set foot in Africa.
The book is marred though by the racism of the author.
The book is marred though by the racism of the author.
June 27, 2010
Amazing true story of exploration and the incredible efforts that it took. From a homeless child in a workhouse, to a world famous explorer.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews