River of the Gods – Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile is a historical account of the expeditions of Richard Burton and John Speke in the 1850s.    The author Candice Millard has written a historical account of the at-the-time-famous expeditions by British explorers to trek from the East Coast of Africa into the Interior in search of the Mountains of the Moon and the source of the Nile.    Burton is a fascinating man who spoke over 50 languages and had spent his whole life living in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa learning the cultures, traditions, and languages.    On the other hand, he had little time or patience for missionaries, bureaucrats, slavers, profiteers, or politicians.    He was well-admired for his research, intelligence, daring, and ability to withstand hardships.    He takes on Speke as his second-in-command on expeditions that take years.     They hire a freed slave Siti Mubarak Bombay who serves as their expedition manager.     They are attacked by a gang of 200, they contract multiple tropical diseases, many of the porters and guards desert, they run out of supplies, and both become too sick to travel.    In spite of this, they are the first Europeans to see Lake Tanganyika and in a period when Burton cannot travel, Speke and Bombay are the first to see Lake Nyanza (Lake Victoria).    Speke is convinced he has finally found the source of the White Nile, but Burton wants further proof.

Speke was a jealous and self-centered man who had racist views and was not above lying and self-aggrandizing.    He returned to England, sold his version of the story, and started to lecture.    In his version of affairs, he was the leader and Burton was unfit for the expedition and unworthy of credit.   When Burton finally returns, he finds himself embroiled in a public debate.

The author uses recorded statements to lay out the facts of the life of Burton, the explorations in the Middle East and in Africa, and in the aftermath of the media (of the time) coverage of the events.

The events of their lives and their key partners and friends after the expeditions are well-detailed and fascinating.   Burton was an accomplished poet, translator, and essayist.    He translated and published the first copies of the Kama Sutra and The Arabian Nights.

This was a precise and well-crafted historical account and a highly recommended book.