The West Branch Nonfiction Book Discussion
group meets the third Tuesday of the month to read a variety of contempor
ary non-fiction. We meet in person at the West Branch or on Zoom--please r
egister to receive the Zoom link. Copies of the book are available for che
ckout at the West Branch. Contact discussion leader Janet Stephens at jste
phens@aurorapubliclibrary.org or call 630-264-3626 for a copy of the book
or for more information.
River of the Gods: Genius\, Co
urage\, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile" by Candice
Millard
The nineteenth century brought increased zeal for
exploration and the discovery of a heretofore unknown geological wonder t
hat would bring fame to its discoverer. None were more mythical in the col
lective imagination or more highly prized than the discovery of the source
of the Nile River. Millard&rsquo\;s (Hero of the Empire\, 2016) splendid
latest tracks the expeditions to claim the prize for England\, the first o
f which was led by the enigmatic Richard Francis Burton. The lionized Burt
on was a decorated soldier\, poet\, translator\, adventurer\, and fencing
master who was fascinated by other cultures and spoke 29 languages. Second
in command was the prideful and embittered John Hanning Speke\, whose amb
ition was only matched by his jealousy of Burton.
Millard expe
rtly guides the reader on an eye-level journey alongside Burton and compan
y on expeditions fraught with peril and beset by pestilence and interminab
le discomforts. The vivid descriptions of the conditions and exquisite det
ail in which the surroundings are rendered are the result of Millard&rsquo
\;s thorough knowledge of her subject and her rich\, descriptive prose. Mi
llard highlights the invaluable contributions of the formerly enslaved Sid
i Mubarak Bombay\, whose role proved to be invaluable. She also notes the
egregious colonialism\, including the tendency to name rivers\, lakes\, an
d mountains after British monarchy. This standout history thrills with a n
ovelistic narrative astutely balanced by impeccable research.