200 years after his birth, this book assesses David Livingstone's life, impact and legacy.

David Livingstone has gone down in history as a fearless explorer and missionary, hacking his way through the forests of Africa to bring light to the people - and also to free them from slavery. But who was he, and what was he actually like? "He was an extraordinary character" according to biographer Stephen Tomkins "spectacularly bad at personal relationships, at least with white people, possessed of infinite self-belief, courage, and restlessness. He was an almost total failure as a missionary, and so became an explorer and campaigner against the slave trade, hoping to save African lives and souls that way instead. He helped, however unwittingly, to set the tone and the extent of British involvement in Africa. He was a flawed but indomitable idealist." Fascinating new evidence about Livingstone's life and his struggles have come to light in the letters and journals he left behind, now accessible to us for the first time through spectral imaging. These form a significant addition to the source material for this excellent biography, which provides an honest and balanced account of the real man behind the Victorian icon.

STEPHEN TOMKINS has a PhD in Church History from London Bible College. An experienced journalist, he is a contributing editor to the Ship of Fools website. He is the author of David Livingstone, John Wesley: A Biography (Lion, 2003) and Paul and His World (Lion, 2004).

David Livingstone has gone down in history as a fearless explorer and missionary, hacking his way through the forests of Africa to bring light to the people - and also to free them from slavery. But who was he, and what was he actually like? "He was an extraordinary character- according to biographer Stephen Tomkins -spectacularly bad at personal relationships, at least with white people, possessed of infinite self-belief, courage, and restlessness. He was an almost total failure as a missionary, and so became an explorer and campaigner against the slave trade, hoping to save African lives and souls that way instead. He helped, however unwittingly, to set the tone and the extent of British involvement in Africa. He was a flawed but indomitable idealist." Fascinating new evidence about Livingstone's life and his struggles have come to light in the letters and journals he left behind, now accessible to us for the first time through spectral imaging. These form a significant addition to the source material for this excellent biography, which provides an honest and balanced account of the real man behind the Victorian icon.

__CONTENTS__  
1\. The Mill 5  
2\. Mission 11  
3\. Joining Up 19  
4\. A New World 27  
5\. The Pioneer 39  
6\. Conflict in Mabotsa 51  
7\. Drought in Chonwane 61  
8\. Salvation in Kolobeng 69  
9\. Lake Ngami 75  
10\. Sebitwane 83  
11\. "Orphaning My Children" 91  
12\. A Long Walk 99  
13\. Two Oceans 105  
14\. National Hero 117  
15\. The Zambezi Expedition 129  
16\. Another Highway 137  
17\. Return to Linyanti 147  
18\. Freedom to the Captives 155  
19\. Defeat 165  
20\. Furlough 175  
21\. The Last Expedition 185  
22\. Misery 193  
23\. Ujiji to the Lualaba 201  
24\. Massacre 207  
25\. Stanley 217  
26\. Last Steps 225  
27\. The Long Run 231  
Endnotes 238  
Index 239

\["For readers interested in missionary history and exploration", "Reveals David Livingstone's fight against slavery", "You will gain a deeper understanding of his true mission"\]

This insightful biography explores the life and legacy of David Livingstone, uncovering his mission and impact in Africa.

Stephen Tomkins

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

1. The Mill

2. Mission

3. Joining Up

4. A New World

5. The Pioneer

6. Conflict in Mabotsa

7. Drought in Chonwane

8. Salvation in Kolobeng

9. Lake Ngami

10. Sebitwane

11. “Orphaning My Children”

12. A Long Walk

13. Two Oceans

14. National Hero

15. The Zambezi Expedition

16. Another Highway

17. Return to Linyanti

18. Freedom to the Captives

19. Defeat

20. Furlough

21. The Last Expedition

22. Misery

23. Ujiji to the Lualaba

24. Massacre

25. Stanley

26. Last Steps

27. The Long Run

Endnotes

Tomkins, Stephen

Published to coincide with the 200th anniversary of his birth, this book looks at the life and impact of David Livingstone - doctor, explorer and missionary. This new biography draws on previously unavailable material: diaries and letters written by Livingstone while at his lowest ebb in Africa, that can now be read because of the work of the David Livingstone Spectral Imagine Project. Livingstone was driven by a passion to convert new tribes in Africa to Christianity, but he was equally concerned to free them from slavery. While the slave trade had been abolished in 1807 from the UK point of view, it still flourished in many parts of Africa, and Livingstone set out to fight it, through exploration and publicity. This less well known part of his work is fully covered in this title.

This new, well written book reveals much about the man. It the man far more human than perhaps anyone else realised. It has taught me much about a man of whom I realise now I knew little. It makes me want to learn more. -- Christopher Wardale The lance 20130610 It has taught me much about a man of whom I realise now I knew little. It makes me want to learn more. -- Christopher Wardale The Lance 20130601 Tomkins re-humanises Livingstone and sees in him a far more interesting person than the figure of old Sunday School teaching ever appeared. -- Christopher Wardale The Lance 20130601 'It is not simply a collection of joined up diary recollections, but a cogent, coherent and topical analysis of his life' -- Lynne McNeil Life and Work 20130401

A biography of David Livingstone, exploring his life as an explorer and missionary. Utilises new evidence from letters and journals for a balanced portrayal of his character.

\["For history enthusiasts and biography readers", "Reveals the real story of Livingstone's life", "You will gain insight into his struggles and impact"\]

‘David Livingstone: A New Assessment of His Life and Impact’ is a revolutionary, new biography based on previously unknown documents that help to piece together what David was actually like as a person.

“He was an extraordinary character … unbelievably bad at personal relationships, at least with white people, with infinite self-belief, courage and restlessness. He was also a complete failure as a missionary, and so became an explorer and campaigner against the slave trade, hoping to save African souls that way instead.”

Read deeper into the mind and life of the Victorian legend through the discovery of letters and journals he left behind, that have been read for the very first time through the science of ‘spectral imaging’. These fascinating documents about Livingstone’s life and his personal struggles, along with other sources visually and descriptively reawaken the man behind the modern Christian icon for curious readers to explore the legacy and the life of the great David Livingstone.

Stephen Tomkins has a PhD in Church History at London Bible College and a contributing editor to the Ship of Fools website. He is about to publish a satirical Church history book with Scripture Union.

Discover the truth behind David Livingstone's legacy as a fearless explorer and missionary.

A New Assessment of His Life and Impact

David Livingstone

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David Livingstone

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