Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa

As may be expected in a personal journal, this travelogue is a bit tedious and uneven; however, it documents firsthand the unprecedented adventure of an extraordinary scientist, missionary and abolitionist. Livingstone's strategy for abolishing slavery, sharing the Gospel and improving the lives of Africans was well ahead of his time. He started with many lesser goals, but difficulty, personal character, competence and God's provision helped him achieve more than he or others ever expected.

This book is a classic. Written both eloquently and heart-felt, David Livingstone has taken us back in time to a more noble and virtuous era, when working with the natives of Africa was positive and encouraging for both Christian missionaries and native tribes. I did not read of violence, hatred, wars, and deep-seated mistrust in the first few chapters of the book.

My first trip to Africa made me fall in love with the place. At Victoria Falls I saw the statue of David Livingstone, and upon returning home I read a brief biography of him that I had long owned. That reading whetted my appetite for his own accounts of being a medical missionary in Africa in the 19th century. What a pleasure it is to browse among his "travels and researches" in some of the same areas I visited.

David Livingstone was not only a great missionary, but was also a great explorer. Much that we have known about the courses of the rivers and the geographical layout of the continent was learned through Livingstone's travels and writings.I can read and read this book. Highly recommended.

It is extremely long and repetitious being essentially a memoir or diary of a very long trip. There are moments here and there of insight into a formative world. There were many interesting cultural insights and often nuggets for a biologist or anthropologist. Livingstone was a great example of a persevering Christian in the midst of great opposition. Snippets of the book might be very good for young people in a classical education mode.

Have you ever thought about Africa in an early day, before "Heart of Darkness"?This book is well written. The author was a very brave and dedicated man.

Great read about someone you need to know about southern Africa.

Incredible Book!