Los amantes del Nilo. La increíble aventura africana de Sam y Florence Baker

by Richard Seymour Hall

In 1858, Samuel Baker bought Florence at a slave auction. They set out in search of the sources of the Nile. Returning to Europe they secretly married. Sam was knighted, and so the girl from the slave market became Lady Baker.

Genres: Africa

332 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante pero no me gustan mucho estos tipos de libro

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must confess that, even though I knew of the expeditions of Livingstone and Stanley and the work of General Gordon in Africa, I had no knowledge of Samuel Baker so did not realise the significant part he had played in the discovery of parts of Central Africa. I recently spotted this book in a bookshop and it was, therefore, a revelation and a most fascinating story. Indeed it is so dramatic that I could have been forgiven for imagining I was reading a G.A. Henty novel which might have been entitled, in the fashion of the day, 'Lovers on the Nile: A Story of Exploration in Central Africa'. Richard Hall has done a magnificent job in researching and recounting it.

In 1858, thwarted at his attempt to join Livingstone in the exploration of Central Africa, Scotsman Sam Baker decided on an expedition of his own and, along with his compatriot the Maharajah Duleep Singh, he set off across Europe heading for Constantinople. En route, while passing through Widdin in what is now modern day Bulgaria he encountered a slave market.

In the sale he spotted a 'frail, golden-haired girl', rather like the three daughters he had left behind in Britain. She was 'in her teens, slim and small, her hair loosely braided at the back of her head' and he paid over the price at which the bidding stopped so that 'she was his slave' ... and, named Florence, later his mistress.

Thus began a life-long association that saw the couple trek all along the Nile for a number of years, experiencing all sorts of problems along the way. There were skirmishes with local tribes, shortages of food, shortages of manpower, and, on occasion, atrocious conditions that at one time very nearly cost Florence her life. She was in a coma for weeks but by then Baker had become so attached to her that he was determined to nurse her through her illness whatever the circumstances. And all along he was in competition with other African explorers such as John Speke, John Petherick and, indeed, Livingstone himself. However, on his own account he did discover and name, both Lake Albert, after Victoria's husband, and the Murchison falls, after his friend Sir Roderick Murchison.

Eventually the couple returned to England and Baker decided that he and Florence would get married even though he had religiously not referred to her in his diaries of any correspondence with his family over the years. Even though rumours about their relationship had spread, nobody was certain as to exactly how the relationship stood so they married in secret by special licence in London. Thereafter Florence was acknowledged as his wife and began to appear in public with him. But with rumours of their previous relationship Queen Victoria felt strongly about the situation and she steadfastly refused to have Mrs Florence Baker received at court and she maintained this attitude and let it be known. Victoria even frowned on her son's, the Prince of Wales, later friendship with the Bakers and tried to get Edward to break if off but he firmly refused.

The couple lived the remainder of their lives devoted to each other and Florence, due to her support of her husband in every expedition they undertook, was regarded as a heroine. Even though she travelled again to Africa with her husband, eventually she refused to go once more and even forbad Sam from going.

Sam was knighted and, the unwelcome at court Florence consequently became Lady Baker. Sam died in 1893 and Florence, by then famous in her own right, survived him by 23 years.

Richard Hall has provided a vivid picture of their life and times in a most enjoyable and informative book.

[Juliet Waterkeyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best story I have read about African 'Explorers' mainly because Sir Samuel Beckett was actually also accompanied by his wife It is a little known fact that she was brought by him in Eastern Europe to save her from slavery, and then accompanied him for years of travel throughout East Africa, often disguised as a boy. An intriguing and rich story which should be made into a film.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story. Sir Samuel Baker was one of the early explorers along the Nile. He purchased a young girl at a slave auction, who later became his wife. This book tells of their travels in North Africa. I am not usually a big fan of biographies, but these were people worth reading about. By the end, you just wish you could have met them.