Through the Dark Continent. Or, The Sources of the Nile, around the Great Lakes of Equatorial Africa, and down the Livingstone River to the Atlantic Ocean. Volume 1

by Henry Morton Stanley

This Elibron Classics title is a reprint of the original edition published by Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington in London, 1878. This book is in English. This book contains 587 pages. This book contains color illustrations.

Genres: History, Africa, Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure, Memoir, Biography

587 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1878

About the author

Henry Morton Stanley was a Welsh journalist and explorer who made a significant impact on the exploration of Africa. Born John Rowlands in Denbigh, Wales in 1841, he had a difficult upbringing and immigrated to the United States at the age of 18. He worked as a journalist during the American Civil War before venturing to Africa on an expedition in search of David Livingstone for the New York Herald in 1869. After many months of arduous travel, Stanley finally found Livingstone in 1871 and famously greeted him with the words, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" The two explorers spent several months together before Stanley returned to Europe to publish his account of the expedition. He continued his exploration of Africa, leading several expeditions. Stanley also was a key figure in the creation of the independent Congo state, serving as it's first governor. In this respect Stanley played a significant role at the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, at which during the conference, Stanley argued strongly in favor for the establishment of free trade zones in the region. Stanley died in 1904 at the age of 63, but his legacy in the field of exploration and mapping is enduring.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I would rather get hit by a bus than try to read the second half of this 1000 paged narrative. I had to read it for a class to try to see where the "Dark Continent" stereotype began (the attitude towards Africa since European explorations and commentaries, like this, that Africa is dark, uncivilized, evil, dangerous, etc.) This was probably the most racist book I have ever read.

Hardly anything is redeeming about this book, other than getting a snap shot of how people really did view this continent hundreds of years ago. The countless references to landmarks and descriptions was painfully boring, but the attitudes towards the death of natives is what bothered me the most. If a whiteman died, he would get a few pages and maybe a cute little sketch to mark the chapter. Even a dog would get at least a half of page. Yet, the natives who guided him along that died along the way were barely mentioned.

One of the most bothersome things about the dialogue in this book is that it is always biased to make him look like a good guy. It is so painfully didactic and flat. He makes it seem like he has conversations with the locals like he is not working through a translator and having all the problems that come with translation. I feel like a lot of the problems that come with cross cultural interaction were simply omitted and coated in whatever overlay he felt like bestowing.

I am glad I had the opportunity to read this to see where some of these stereotypes about Africa have originated. Sometimes I wonder if we have gotten much farther today, where the only thing we seem to know about the place is what we see on Hollywood movies that glorify some of these issues. I hope that we can still evolve past this.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting mostly for the description of the people (though fairly racist at times), how they lived, and how they fought on campaigns prior to European colonization. Lots of endless descriptions of his efforts to map the significant lakes of East Africa.

[Kivanani Kasuti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through the Dark Continent is a fascinating yet complicated read—a detailed chronicle of Henry Morton Stanley’s ambitious expedition across Central Africa in the 19th century. As a historical document, it offers invaluable insight into early exploration, geography, and encounters with various African communities before colonization took full hold.

That said, the book is also a product of its time, and Stanley’s tone often reflects a colonial mindset that can be uncomfortable, even jarring, to read today. While the scope of the journey is undeniably impressive, and the endurance remarkable, the narrative sometimes lacks sensitivity and can feel more self-aggrandizing than reflective.

Overall, it’s worth reading for the historical perspective, but best approached with a critical lens. A mix of gripping adventure and dated ideology that leaves you both intrigued and conflicted.

[David Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is worth reading, but his style gets old. When he described the war between two tribes of Africans, he wrote with authority and told the story well. In other places he is reporting on the events of the day. It was a little difficult to read, just because you get tired of yet another village and another barter for the way through thier land.
He lived it and it is interesting, just know it is a bit of a slog at points. Worth reading.

[Lucy McCoskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stanley traveled through Uganda and other countries in the mid 1870s, with courage, assurance, scientific curiosity, and a marvelous ability to describe people and peoples. he felt the need to spread Christianity as he explored. his description of the ruler of Uganda & his subjects made me feel as if they set the stage for Idi Amin

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first volume of Henry Stanley's two volume Through the Dark Continent. Detailed, and somewhat boring, account of his travel and exploration through Africa.

[Matthew Sedlak · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author may be a great explorer, but he's no writer. I found it very difficult to understand where he was going and even why he was going at times. Maybe he just liked camping!

[Ron Me]

An enticingly written travelogue, but more: geology, botany, history and ethnography. Can't wait to read vol. 2!

[Stanley Harder · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a lot of detail so unless you're interested in the nitty gritty of his trips this may not be the book for you.

[Amerynth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the first volume of Stanley's "Through the Dark Continent" to be a difficult read. The adventurer's book is full of details about his travels exploring equatorial Africa, including carrying a boat to circumnavigate Lake Victoria. I read this book as an adventure novel, not as an ethnography, so I found myself bogged down in a lot of the detail, rather than on a adventure with early white explorers in Africa. Stanley also assumes that you've read his book about his search for Livingstone (which I haven't) and references it frequently. All that said, Stanley is a keen observer and apparently incredibly persistent. I liked the book enough to read the second volume, but I imagine it's going to take me a while to get through it.

[Alex Fabish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting window into world of 19th century American/European “exploration.” Half engaging travelogue discussing the expedition’s interaction with different African tribes, half endless descriptions of mundane details that have no bearing on the narrative. Does the reader need to know the height of every mountain they summit or the different pieces of furniture within every tribal leader’s hut or hall? All that stretching one volume into two accomplishes is making Stanley’s craving for publishing royalties as obvious as his bloated ego.

[Richard Croner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough book for me to read. Late 1800's written english, African geographical locations, tribe names, and personal names made it very tough for me to keep straight. Those negatives being said, I found the book to be fascinating. I have never been to Africa but it is on my bucket list and the similarities described in the book versus 150 years later i.e. today are unmistakable. I try to read a book a week and this one took much, much longer but it was worth the effort.

[Tim]

Fascinating since most of what Stanley records a white was seeing for the first time. I found his descriptions of the natives and his retelling of their legends more interesting than his descriptions of geography.

[SueEllen]

Need to re-read this in the context of King Leopold's Ghost. Didn't have all this history first time I read it over 10 years ago; however, I do remember getting the impression that as an explorer, Stanley did seem a bit countryless. King Leopold's Ghost sheds light on this.

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

First part of Stanley’s story travelling from east to west across central Afrika.
Mainly covers the lakes of the rift valley. Largely discusses illnesses, uneasy relations with the bearers, forcing his way through native territory.
Not a nice story. Not a good storyteller. Nonetheless informative.

[Laura Schmidt-Dockter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had a 19th century African map so I could have more closely followed the expedition's progress. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am anticipating the second volume

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
Read for personal research
- found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for understanding the history of East and Central Africa.