A devilishly addictive biography ...

I loved the book by Alan Moorehead, The White Nile, which explained the research explorers to find the source of the Nile. Among them, the Speke / Burton duo. The personality of Richard Burton sketched interested me and I set about reading the biography of Fawn Brodie. Suffice to say that when one plunges, you not let her go. It is hard to believe in the veracity of such a fate! This gifted, curious about everything and especially of man, has never hesitated to put her at risk again for the triumph career ideals. The straitjacket of Victorian stifled and pushed him towards new horizons. He loved to provoke the good society and has often paid dearly ... This fascinating book is particularly well written, and describes both the fate of Sir Burton, the fascinating personality, the atmosphere of an era that adulated its explorers but forgave them any missteps. Hard to beat ...