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Livingstone is perhaps the best-known missionary of them all. His attempts to find the source of the Nile and his famous meeting with Henry Morton Stanley have become the stuff of legend. The truth behind the legend, however, is even more compelling. Drawing extensively from Livingstone's personal notes and letters, Rob Mackenzie unfolds the intensely human story of a man with a vision - to set souls free from slavery, both physically and spiritually, and to open up Africa to Christianity and lawful commerce Livingstone has come to be regarded as a figure purely based on a few events, lost in legend, yet his tomb inscription reads 'Brought by faithful hands over land and sea here rests David Livingstone - missionary, traveller, philanthropist... for 30 years his life was spent in an unwearied effort to evangelise the native races, to explore the undiscovered secrets, to abolish the desolating slave trade of Central Africa where with his last words he wrote "all I can add in my solitude, is, may heaven's rich blessing come down on every one, American, English, or Turk, who will help to heal this open sore of the world." An amazing story awaits you on the first page.… (more)
User reviews
Livingstone was a medical doctor, Christian
Although I found the reading to be somewhat tedious and depressing, I'm glad to have read it and believe it to be a good experience. I use "tedious," as the author is careful to take the reader though many details of physical, mental, and spiritual hardships in the daily living of Livingstone. Yet, I must caution myself, if I think they be tedious, what must they have been like for Livingstone?
I use "depressing," as much of what Livingstone experienced in life -- to him and by him -- turned out to be a downer and/or a mistake. In spite of it all, however, the author succeeds in communicating the great faith that Livingstone had in himself, others, and God.
Persons interesting in serving as a Christian missionary, especially to the African continent, should find the book to be beneficial and hopefully, inspiring.
The book includes several maps, plus 20 illustrations that enhance its reading. It also includes three pages of "Biographical Notes," listing the dates of major events or milestones in Livingstone's life. There is no index.