Hearts of Darkness

An account of 19th-century African exploration and the explorers themselves. Frank McLynn offers the reality - the equipment, the porters, the guns and the dangers - and describes the personalities and motivation of the people who made such astonishing journeys to the heart of the continent.

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At the beginning of the 19th century, the interior of Africa was almost entirely unknown to the inhabitants of the "civilized" world. The continent was Nature's last great fortress, made seemingly impregnable by disease, hostile tribes, dangerous animals, extremes of climate and an inhospitable terrain. However, by the middle of the century the era of discovery had unmistakeably dawned. Africa was being opened up by the British, French and Germans, by new technology and feats of bravery. This book offers the reality of exploration, the equipment, the porters, the guns and the dangers. Here too are the explorers, their personalities, their motivation and their astonishing journeys to the heart of the continent.