Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa's Greatest Explorer [Paperback]

'Superb ... Tim Jeal's absorbing biography will surely be definitive. The story of how an emotionally damaged Victorian pauper opened up the Dark Continent is an extraordinary one, and Jeal has written a great book - shrewd, perceptive and engaging.' --Sunday Telegraph

'Magnificent ... There have been many biographies of Stanley, but Jeal's is the most felicitous, the best informed, the most complete and readable.' --Paul Theroux, New York Times Book Review

'An absorbing, sometimes horrifying biography ... a feat of
advocacy - an ardent, intricate defence of a man history has damned.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'Stunningly comprehensive ... a rollicking read as well as moving,
incisive study of one man's restless, evolving character and ambitions.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'It is a wonderful story almost epic in scope ... What a biopic it
would make!' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

A gripping and critically acclaimed biography of the most brilliant and misunderstood adventurer in the great age of exploration.

'A stunning and provocative work, an awesome piece of scholarship
executed with page-turning brio ... a remarkable reassessment.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'... gruesomely masterful ... this compelling biography ... allows
us vividly to imagine the enormity of Stanley's experience [and] what
courage it took.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'The best and most readable biography of Henry Morton Stanley draws on a wealth of new material.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'[A] fine life.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

'Impressive, revealing and well-written.' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Henry Morton Stanley was a cruel imperialist - a bad man of Africa. Or so we think: but as Tim Jeal brilliantly shows, the reality of Stanley's life is yet more extraordinary. Few people know of his dazzling trans-Africa journey, a heart-breaking epic of human endurance which solved virtually every one of the continent's remaining geographical puzzles. With new documentary evidence, Jeal explores the very nature of exploration and reappraises a reputation, in a way that is both moving and truly majestic.

STANLEY was one of the New York Times' 100 Notable Books of 2007.

It is also one of five finalists in the American National Book Critics Circle Awards. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

The tragic life of the most brilliant adventurer in the great
age of exploration.

Henry Morton Stanley was a cruel imperialist - a bad man of Africa - who
connived with King Leopold II of Belgium in horrific crimes against the
people of the Congo. He also conducted the most legendary celebrity
interview in history, remembered in the words `Dr Livingstone, I presume?'

Or so we think: but as Tim Jeal brilliantly shows, none of these
perceptions is quite true. The reality of Stanley's life - even by the
exceptional standards of the Victorian age - is yet more extraordinary.
Rejected by both parents at birth and consigned to a Welsh workhouse, he
emigrated to America, fought in the Civil War - on both sides - before
becoming a journalist and then an explorer.

Few people know of his dazzling trans-Africa journey, which solved
virtually every one of the continent's remaining geographical puzzles. His
journey down the Congo to the Atlantic is a heart-breaking epic of human
endurance. It alone qualifies him as Africa's greatest explorer.

Now, abundant new documentary evidence allows Jeal to show just how
misunderstood Stanley's life has been. In doing so, he also provides a
timely re-examination of post-colonial guilt, new insights into African
history, and a fresh understanding of the nature of exploration. Few
biographies can claim so thoroughly to reappraise a reputation, or to be as
moving, or as truly majestic. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Tim Jeal is the author of Livingstone, selected as a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times Book Review and one of the 'Best and Brightest of the Year' by the Washington Post Book World. His Baden-Powell was described in the Literary Review as 'one of the most important biographies of recent years'. His memoir, Swimming with my Father, was published by Faber in 2004 to rapturous critical acclaim. He is also a novelist and a former winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize.