To the Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa [Paperback]

Pat Shipman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 28, 2004

In 1859, at age fourteen, Florence Szász stood before a room full of men and waited to be auctioned to the highest bidder. But slavery and submission were not to be her destiny: Sam Baker, a wealthy English gentleman and eminent adventurer, was moved by compassion and an immediate, overpowering empathy for the young woman, and braved extraordinary perils to help her escape. Together, Florence and Sam -- whose love would remain passionate and constant throughout their lives -- forged into literally uncharted territory in a glorious attempt to unravel a mysterious and magnificent enigma called Africa.

A stunning achievement, To the Heart of the Nile is an unforgettable portrait of an unforgettable woman: a story of discovery, bravery, determination, and love, meticulously reconstructed through journals, documents, and private papers, and told in the inimitable narrative style that has already won Pat Shipman resounding international acclaim.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Shipman (The Man Who Found the Missing Link, etc.) recounts the courageous, adventurous life of Lady Florence Baker (18451916). Born in Transylvania and orphaned after the Hungarian revolution in 18481849, "Barbara" was taken to an Ottoman harem where her name was changed to "Florenz," and she lived "like an innocent flower blossoming in the sun." When she reached puberty, however, she was sold at slave auction to the pasha of Viddin in the Balkans and later abducted by the second-highest bidder, a wealthy middle-aged English adventurer named Samuel Baker, who renamed her "Florence." Independent, cultured and beautiful, Sam's 15-year-old acquisition possessed a fiery spirit and worldly curiosity that rivaled his own. So, in 1861, the unlikely couple set out for Africa to search for two English explorers who were on a quest to discover the Nile's source and to continue their soulful romance, free of the scrutiny Florence attracted for her "extreme youth and somewhat shadowy past." During their four years in Africa, the Bakers dealt with life-threatening illness, deception by tribal chiefs and mutiny-and witnessed some truly horrifying acts of human cruelty and degradation. But despite the hardships, including a return trip to attempt to dismantle the African slave trade, their love was unshaken. Combining journals, letters and photographs, Shipman's account shines with historical clarity and narrative fluency, although at times the invented dialogue between the couple rings a saccharine note. Overall, this portrait of bravery, altruism and stamina in the wilds of uncharted Africa is a reverent and careful tribute. 66 b&w illus.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Shipman, author most recently of The Man Who Found the Missing Link (2001), continues her quest to uncover the amazing stories of intrepid Victorians in this riveting portrait of an extraordinary couple: the wealthy, smart, and courageous Englishman Sir Samuel Baker, who was knighted in 1866 for his discovery of a secondary source of the Nile, the Luta N'zige, which he renamed Lake Albert, and his even more impressive, intelligent, and indomitable wife and coexplorer, Lady Florence. Born in Transylvania in 1845, orphaned during the Hungarian Revolution, and raised in a harem in the Ottoman Empire, Florence is horrified when she is offered for sale at a white slave auction. Samuel, in a move right out of a romance novel, effects a bold rescue. Florence and her savior fall profoundly in love and embark on a life of idealistic ambition and harrowing deprivation, disease, betrayal, and bloodshed as they explore the Sudan and confront its deeply entrenched slave trade. With myriad life-or-death confrontations backed by keen social commentary on an African world poisoned by slavery and fractured by imperialism, an English society rife with misogyny and racism, and complex religious and cultural conflicts, Shipman presents a remarkably compelling tale of heroic love and epic endeavors. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (December 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060505575
• ISBN-13: 978-0060505578
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,387,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story of a Remarkable Woman and Explorer, October 24, 2004

By 

Richard Sawyer (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To the Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa (Hardcover)

To the Heart of the Nile is an exceptional work of historical writing. Pat Shipman has produced a very engaging, well researched biography of Lady Florence Baker and her husband, Sam Baker, from Florence Baker's early days spent in an Ottoman harem to the courageous journeys she and her husband made exploring the Nile river. Shipman skillfully provides a description of the relevant history, politics and culture of the Ottoman Empire, Great Britian, Egypt and the Sudan during the life of the remarkable Florence Baker and her husband. The characters and personalities of Florence Baker, Sam Baker, and many others are brought vividly to life. The book reads much like an adventure story, yet stays true to solid historical writing. Shipman does take some liberties with ascribing conversations and thoughts to the Bakers and others, which I initially had questions about. But this is done with very careful regard to the source material, and results in a more engaging tale. The book also contains excellent maps of the Nile River explorations, and a large number of beautiful illustrations. One of the best biographies I've ever read. Very strongly recommended, especially to those interested in women's history and the history of exploration.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling Tale, Flawed Book, July 26, 2007

By 

Chimonsho (Turtle Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To the Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa (Paperback)

This book notably advances understanding of the Bakers, wife/husband explorers extraordinaire. Most works focus on Samuel, treating Florence as an exotic appendage, but she was talented, fearless and an active agent in their adventures. The well-written text does justice to her inherently dramatic life, but problematic features lessen its credibility. First, there is much invented dialogue. While based on a sound grasp of primary sources and appreciation of Florence's character, such licence inevitably strays from the facts. Readers will wonder which parts are reliably documented and what is invention, but it makes for a stirring tale. More weighty is that Shipman is not an Africa specialist. This leads to numerous flaws, minor in themselves but cumulatively damaging. Many place and personal names have archaic spellings no longer used in their countries or by Africanists. Shipman routinely adopts the Bakers' negative views, repeating hoary insults about African laziness, theft, lying and dissipation. (The section on Florence's early life and Islamic education in the Ottoman Empire is more nuanced and sympathetic.) She also seems to endorse their Victorian ethnocentrism: "From his plantation days, Sam knew how to command large numbers of natives," p.62. Authors should hew closely to the sources, but also build on them without being constrained by their perspective. The Bakers achieved marvels of physical endurance in Africa, but disrupted many societies by using force to pursue their goals; the book elides this aspect of their 1870s military expedition to the Upper Nile. Cf. R. Collins's harsh but judicious chapter on Samuel Baker (R. Rotberg ed., "Africa & Its Explorers"), showing that the people Florence and Samuel met had their own valid concerns and goals.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The incredible determination of the early Explorer!, September 9, 2006

By 

Shirley W. Madany (South Holland, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To the Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa (Paperback)

Based on journal entries, private papers, and newspaper articles of the day, Pat Shipman has provided us with a true story of love and bravery. When Sam and Florence Baker set out together to search for the source of the Nile, they encountered unbelievable conditions as they painfully made their way on camel back across the burning desert, and often on foot through the jungle to the heart of Africa. Knowing that they eventually became Lord and Lady Baker is a consolation, as you suffer with their trials, debilitating fevers and horrendous tribal wars. Here we have a story of enduring love amidst great hardship. A book worth reading from beginning to end as you watch Sam Baker rescue this beautiful Hungarian girl from a highly specialized slave auction for girls who had been prepared to grace any Sultan's harem! This remarkable and beautiful young woman went on to save the life of her husband on more than one occasion. The charming black and white sketches and illustrations, plus two maps, add considerably to the value of the book.