River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile – by Candice Millard – independent book review – Nonfiction

RIVER OF THE GODS: GENIUS, COURAGE, AND BETRAYAL IN THE SEARCH FOR THE SOURCE OF THE NILE is a perfectly crafted example of the dark side of British Colonialism, and by extension, of ALL the efforts by Western powers (including the United States) to extend their control to parts of the world beyond their borders. This is a story of overt racism, cultural insensitivity, and massive white male egos. Awarded three stars on Goodreads.

I am a big fan of author Candice Millard whose books skillfully embody both comprehensive research and an uncanny ability to turn what, in other hands, could be dry non-fiction into gripping narrative. This particular story, the tale of two British rivals trying to discover the source of the 4,130-mile-long Nile River, just didn’t grab me as much as her other books have.

It’s not that there aren’t fascinating characters. Consider the two protagonists: the socially inept and eclectic Richard Francis Burton (1821-90) and the bigoted and insecure John Hanning Speke (1827-64). Both explorers wish desperately to become famous for solving the great scientific mystery of their age: where is the origin of the Nile? The third player, of course, is the Royal Geographic Society (RGS), a United Kingdom funding source for many exploration journeys of this era– though the RGS struck me as a learned society dedicated primarily to wealthy upper class members with too much time on their hands and a need to justify their existence.

Burton believed the source of the Nile was Lake Tanganyika but Speke becomes convinced it is another lake, the one he named Lake Victoria, for the British Queen. (Don’t even get me started about Western explorers arbitrarily naming locations in foreign countries after themselves or their own country’s famous folks! Talk about entitlement! Sheesh!)

The relationship between Burton and Speke is challenging from day one. I guess gigantic egos, rivalry, power hoarding, and outright lies don’t make much of a foundation for friendship. And this is why I personally wasn’t as captivated by the book. Too much of it focuses on this relationship between two men who were overly self-involved and often petty and immature in their dealings with one another. Too much like two boys on a playground.

Certainly both men and their expedition companions suffered many hardships exploring a remote part of the African continent. I was very interested in THAT experience. And there is quite a bit of detail about what they endured (not for the squeamish, by the way). Just, in my opinion, too much of the other stuff.

I’m glad I read RIVER OF THE GODS. I learned a lot about the difficulties involved in venturing into previously unexplored areas (and these particular trips happened not THAT long ago). Obstacles like the burden of carrying supplies, the difficulty of hiring reliable and trustworthy help, the unexpected expenses, and the uncertainty of resupplying. I just think I personally would have been happier if it was 50 pages shorter.

More about bestselling author Candice Millard.

You may be interested in my reviews of other books by Millard:

DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC: A TALE OF MADNESS, MEDICINE, AND THE MURDER OF A PRESIDENT

THE RIVER OF DOUBT: THEODORE ROOSEVELT’S DARKEST JOURNEY