Stolen Woman [Hardcover]

Pat Shipman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2004

The events of Florence Baker's life read like a novel. Born in the 1840s into an aristocratic family who was murdered in the Hungarian revolution, Florence fled to the Ottoman empire with her nurse. She was next heard of living in a harem, barely in her teens. In 1859 she was presented at auction, and it was in this most unlikely of settings that she met her soulmate Sam Baker, a wealthy English adventurer whose geographic discoveries proved crucial to England's understanding of the African landscape. Saving her from slavery, Sam offered his paramour much more - a life of danger, excitement and passion exploring the uncharted interior of Africa in search of the source of the Nile. Their expedition into the African wilderness was to be no less dramatic than Florence's early life. Sam and Florence were to suffer years of deprivation and conflict with local tribes before their amazing fortitude brought ultimate victory. Sam named the source of the Nile Albert N'yanza, after the Queen's consort. But a larger challenge awaited them: winning acceptance in polite Victorian society. In this riveting book Pat Shipman brings the redoubtable and unique Florence out from beneath the shadow of her more famous husband. Florence Baker is the story of a remarkable woman, of an extraordinary love affair, but also of the golden age of exploration. Reconstructed through journals, documents, maps and photographs, THE STOLEN WOMAN chronicles the life of a tenacious, compassionate and unlikely explorer - a woman who stood alongside some of the toughest men in history to face the unknown.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Press (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0593050061
• ISBN-13: 978-0593050064
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,636,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars A great tale but some issues, August 24, 2011

By 

MarmaLakeFirearms (Murtoa, Victoria, Australia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Stolen Woman (Hardcover)

This book is an interesting one. The story of the Bakers has been well researched and I have read a great deal on them plus their contemporaries. The book is well illustrated and the historical sections are basically in line with other sources. Their lives were really remarkable. What detracted from the book from my point of view, was the author creating words she believed they would have used in their circumstances and this is a mistake. If she had really thought about the two, read his diaries, thought about Victorian gentlemen of the Victorian era, Florences' background, I think her sentences she created for them would have been different. Words that weren't even in existance are used. I cannot imagine Sir Samuel Baker exclaiming "Phoey" any more than I can imagine him saying "Lets Google the Nile's source and discover it!" I know I am nitpicking a good book but it would have been an excellent book if the author had stuck to the historical fact and not embellished it with unfitting prose. I have no doubt others will disagree.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Movie Script Was Written About This Story, September 8, 2008

By 

TravelGal (LA, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stolen Woman (Hardcover)

Amazing story of Florence Baker. Patrice Williams wrote a screenplay about this same story called, "The River and the Ribbon." You will not believe what this couple had to endure before and after they met as well as before and after they returned from the Nile. A must read.

4.0 out of 5 stars Plucked from a harem., February 26, 2008

By 

Carat Lee "rt66" (albuquerque, nm) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stolen Woman (Hardcover)

Being plucked from a harem...how great is that to get you intrigued. Not as gripping or enthralling as "Skeletons on the Zahara", but a great read. Few of us would experience or even know anyone who experienced such mind-boggling adventures as Florence and Mr Baker. It's a love story to boot. If you enjoy this book, you'll be blown away by Skeltons on the Zahara, a more grisly and astounding account of unbelievable hardship and adventure based on fact. Hats off to those who can/could endure the most extreme conditions and arduous journeys. I prefer my comfie fire and reading chair, tho.