Book excerpts: River of the Gods by Candice Millard.
The best book quotes from River of the Gods.What observations are made in River of the Gods? Does Millard adequately consider the various angles such as politics, religious beliefs, cultural values, etc. Do you believe it was suicide, an accident, or something else? Why do you think it ended that way? Discuss the effect of Speke’s death on Burton’s life.ĭo you agree with the author that the underlying theme of the story is the arrogance of exploration? Is this strictly a European tendency? Do you see it elsewhere? Why do you think this is or is not? Were you surprised by Speke’s end? There are a number of questions in regards to his end. The concept of slavery was very different in India than it was in Europe and the Americas. In what way do you see the two explorers playing off one another? Do you think the ending was inevitable? Why do you think Burton took Speke on the second time?
What do you make of Isabel’s childhood and her interactions with the Romani? How do you see this shaping Isabel into the woman she would become? Discuss.ĭo you see similar politics in today’s explorations and endeavors or have we moved beyond being dictated by politics/ulterior motives? Why or why not? If not, do you see us ever doing so? Have you had a chance to see any of these alternative methods of cartography? If so, what was your impression?Īt one point, the author mentions that at the point in time when Burton is trying to get the RGS to support his expedition into central eastern Africa that despite what he might have put on the documents as the purpose of the expedition and despite what any other mission might be (in this case ethnographic, linguistic, and biological in nature), any mission to that area of Africa was considered a failure regardless of outcome if it failed to discover the source of the White Nile (the other two tributaries having already been discovered). What would it have changed if this hadn’t been the case? NonEuropean cartography was often discounted at the time of Burton and Speke. What do you think this says about them? About society of the time as a whole? It is the reason why you see so many sea monsters and land masses that don’t exist. Before this book, what did you know about the Royal Geographical Society (RGS)? Did your opinion change over the course of the book? How so?Īncient cartographers had what is known in the art world as “horror vacui” or fear of blank spaces.
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