David Livingstone: The Truth Behind the Legend [Hardcover]

Mackenzie Rob (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 389 pages
• Publisher: Christian Focus (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857926153
• ISBN-13: 978-1857926156
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,116,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Changing, March 23, 2000

By 

"[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

This review is from: David Livingstone: The truth behind the legend (Paperback)

I went to Cecil Rhodes School and my 'sports house' was Livingstone (this was in London). David Livingstone has always been part of my life, I came to South Africa some years ago. I visited Victoria Falls two year ago while I was there I too saw the same beauty David saw. His Statue overlooks the Falls as if keeping them safe. After reading this book on his life - it had such an impact on me. This man NEVER gave up, he loved the people of Africa and if we could just have a little 'piece' of his humility, we all have hope. Rob Mackenzie showed Livingstone humility all through the book and as I finished the last page. I felt that I had been of a real journey. My life changed because of this - I am 47 years old and I registered for 1st year University in Human Sciences. I even went and bought more copies to give to my friends - it is a humbling experience, it puts everything back into perspective.

32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is not a book, it is a Journey--challenging and humbling., June 6, 2000

By 

Tom Cunningham (Livingstone, Zambia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: David Livingstone: The truth behind the legend (Paperback)

I guess there are times in biography writing when the sheer magnitude of the subject overshadows the book. However, Rob Mackenzie captures this life with pure genius. As he takes us on the chronological journey of David Livingstone's life, we are deeply saddened by the utter despair of his relentless failings and hopeless circumstances, only to reach to the top and celebrate in the victory of a simple move forward. He truly captures the love and compassion that Dr. Livingstone had for a forgotten people and shames us with the recounting of his unfeigned commitment. The road to Africa's salvation is surely paved with the blood of this man and the content challenges us to dare to take that road after him. When the author describes the final scene--with David Livingstone crumpled over, dying silently while in prayer, I am in tears and like the natives, afraid to consider what to do next. I took this biography personally and I am unworthy to even walk in his shadow, you see, I am a missionary in Zambia. Every success I experience now, was properly paid for and recounted in this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Significant historically for his impact on slave trade and Christianity in Africa. His suffering parallels with Brother Yun., July 6, 2007

By 

Thomas Chon "Cal and GU" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: David Livingstone: The Truth Behind the Legend (Hardcover)

If you are interested in the trailblazer who paved the path into Africa for Christianity this is the book for you. He single handedly stopped the slave trade in Africa through his complete reliance on God and God alone. Just an awesome person of faith and a true testimony to humanity. He shows you what the human spirit is willing to endure for his love of others and God.