River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile

River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile (2022) is a nonfiction book by American writer and journalist Candice Millard. It chronicles the expeditions undertaken by British explorers Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke, who, with the assistance of Sidi Mubarak Bombay and numerous African porters and guides, ventured to discover the elusive source of the Nile River in East Africa. While Burton and Speke started off as friends, Millard documents how arrogance, obsession, and jealousy turned the two men into bitter rivals. The story takes place at the height of European colonial interest in the African continent, with the search for the Nile’s source stemming from the European obsession with conquering what they believed to be unchartered territory. While the two men do find the source of the Nile, this success comes at great personal costs for both of them.

The book was a New York Times bestseller. It also won the Goodreads Choice Award in the history/biography category and was The Washington Post’s Best Book of the Year.

This guide uses the 2022 Doubleday edition.

Content Warning: The source text deals with psychological, emotional, and physical distress that the characters experience during the expeditions, as well as violence and racism associated with western colonialism. The text also discusses depression and suicide ideation.

Summary

Millard tells the story of the search for the Nile River in four parts. In Part 1, Millard focuses on Richard Francis Burton’s first attempt to find the source of the Nile River. She documents how Burton and John Hanning Speke meet, emphasizing that Speke is jealous of Burton from the beginning. This expedition fails due to an attack by a group of Somalis at Berbera. Burton’s arrogance plays a role in this attack, which kills one of his friends.

In Part 2, Millard turns to Burton’s second expedition to Lake Tanganyika, which is believed to be the source of the Nile River. Despite the tension between the two men, Burton asks Speke to once again be his second-in-command. Speke agrees, although his jealousy is slowly turning into resentment toward Burton. The expedition begins in Zanzibar. Here, Burton and Speke meet Bombay, an African guide who becomes the gem of their expedition. Initially, the expedition has support from the British consul at Zanzibar, who is a friend of Burton’s. When the consul dies, one of Burton’s nemeses—a man named Rigby—replaces him. The expedition team faces various difficulties, including disease, starvation, broken equipment, and more. Despite all these mishaps, Burton and Speke reach the lake, where they discover that a river runs into the lake. This discovery means Tanganyika is not the source of the Nile. Based on local accounts, Speke explores another lake nearby named Nyanza. He is convinced that this lake represents the true source of the White Nile, although Burton believes more evidence is needed. Toward the end of Part 2, Burton and Speke’s friendship begins to seriously deteriorate.

Their relationship worsens in Part 3. During episodes of delirium caused by illness, Speke admits to Burton that he feels great resentment toward him and wishes to command his own expedition. Two of Speke’s friends further Speke’s anger and frustrations toward Burton, which ultimately leads Speke to betray him. While Burton stays behind to recover from illness, Speke returns to England and immediately goes to the Royal Geographic Society to tell them about his discovery of Nyanza and to inquire about leading an expedition. After Speke’s betrayal, Burton sinks into a depression that changes his character.

Part 4 begins with Speke’s travels to Nyanza with his friend Grant as second-in- command. Despite having little evidence, Speke calls his expedition a success. While the Royal Geographic Society is thrilled with his discovery, they want to keep the British public interested in the African continent and Nile River. As a result, they suggest a public debate between Burton and Speke over the source of the Nile. Both men agree to participate. Burton and Speke run into one another for the first time the day before the debate. Speke leaves the debate hall in distress. He decides to hunt at Neston Hall to calm his nerves. Speke dies from a fatal gunshot wound. It remains a mystery whether this wound is self-inflicted accidentally or intentionally. Speke’s death drives Burton further into depression. He turns to translating works of eroticism later in his life. Despite Burton, Speke, and Bombay all playing a key role in the discovery of the Nile River’s source, today only Burton is remembered for his contributions.