The River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile

These adventurers should have left the Nile alone.

The River of the Gods is a classic tale of Victorian-era exploration full of class snobbery, cultural hegemony, and large egos.  One of the last plum conquests left for any self-respecting English explorer was the source of the White Nile. Richard Burton was famous for his adventures like entering Mecca in disguise and his mastery of languages. Finding the source of the Nile would seal his legacy. John Hanning Speke’s passion was big-game hunting, and he thought a trip to the African interior would give him plenty of chances to bring down exotic animals. Instead, both men nearly died, their reputations were ruined, and the adventure made them bitter rivals for the rest of their lives.