DAVID LIVINGSTONE: His Life and Letters

by George Seaver ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 30, 1957

David Livingstone was an obdurate Scot. ""I will go anywhere, provided it be--forward"", he replied to the Missionary Directors who acceded to his desire to proceed into the interior of Africa. A bachelor, skilled in medicine and dogma, he subordinated science to theology, treating only the most severely afflicted of his African flock, ministering primarily to the spiritual needs. From Livingstone's letters one glimpses the courtship with which David attended Mary Moffat, daughter of a missionary. He describes her "" .. not romantic, but a matter-of-fact lady, a little, thick, black-haired girl, sturdy and all that I want."" Their married life, the African explorations, the births of their children, weakening the ""sturdy"" wife, who died long before her husband, the dramatic rescue of Livingstone by journalist Stanley, are seen first hand from his own commentaries in his Journals and letters and through the correspondence of his friends and superiors, all unified by the scholarly and almost understated narrative of the author, who was the biographer of another Apostle to Africa-- Albert Schweitzer. Livingstone's body is buried in Westminster Abbey, but his heart lies where his pilgrim journey ended, beneath a mvula tree in the dark continent.

Pub Date: Oct. 30, 1957

ISBN: 0548444757

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1957

Categories: NONFICTION