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To the Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa – A Meticulously Researched Biography of 19th-Century Discovery and Passionate Love
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 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 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.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
30 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Pat Shipman
19 books43 followersPat Shipman is a professor of anthropology at Penn State University. Coauthor of the award-winning The Ape in the Tree, she writes for American Scientist and lives in Moncure, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 20, 2016
Last month I read this short book titled When Hitler took Cocaine and Lenin list His Brain by Giles Milton where I stumbled across this story of a an English Gentleman, Samuel Baker, in 1860 who rescues a girl, Florence, from being enslaved in a harem in the Ottoman empire. I found the story to be so fascinating that I did some research to see what else could be found out of this story and that's when I found To the Heart of the Nile by Pat Shipman.
This is a fascinating story of a couple that broke through so many boundaries during the Victorian era that includes two explorations of the Nile River. The second exploration where Sam and Florence were primarily tasked with trying to abolish slavery in the Sudan.
The story is a novelization of there lives rather than simply a biography. The author does a splendid job telling the stories and accounts in such a way as I could hardly put the book down! That is how much I enjoyed this book!
This would make a terrific miniseries or TV show. I highly recommend this book if anyone is interested this era of history.
This is a fascinating story of a couple that broke through so many boundaries during the Victorian era that includes two explorations of the Nile River. The second exploration where Sam and Florence were primarily tasked with trying to abolish slavery in the Sudan.
The story is a novelization of there lives rather than simply a biography. The author does a splendid job telling the stories and accounts in such a way as I could hardly put the book down! That is how much I enjoyed this book!
This would make a terrific miniseries or TV show. I highly recommend this book if anyone is interested this era of history.
December 12, 2008
This book was so annoying it inspired me to create a new bookshelf for JUNK. I really hate it when writers try to have it both ways, either write a true biography or write historical fiction and claim it as such-there is no shame in writing historical fiction. I realize that to a point, all biographers, must make assumptions. However, in well written bios, it is clear what is fact and what is opinion or educated guessing by the author based on research. No one claiming to be a legitimate scholar or biographer can MAKE UP conversations between historical figures, put it in quotation marks and expect to be taken seriously! Shipman should be ashamed of herself.
Not only that, but the characters that emerge in her work of "fiction" are annoying and one-dimensional. It is a shame, the Bakers has such extraordinarly lives and experiences, they really deserve better than this book. It says something about their journeys exploring the Nile that I was able to finish the book, I had to find out what was next for them and I would like to find an actual biography of the Bakers.
Not only that, but the characters that emerge in her work of "fiction" are annoying and one-dimensional. It is a shame, the Bakers has such extraordinarly lives and experiences, they really deserve better than this book. It says something about their journeys exploring the Nile that I was able to finish the book, I had to find out what was next for them and I would like to find an actual biography of the Bakers.
October 30, 2008
I read this book when it first came out in 2004. I found the book to be very enlightening and well written.
I had read a review in LA Times book review at the time and the reviewer had criticized the author for recreating dialog between Sam and Florence. The author did take a lot of her information from diaries and probably did have to fill in at some points, but it was based on thorough research. Sometimes the author is forced to invent some conversations in order to make the story cohesive.
I thought this book, clearly based on factual information, was fascinating.
I had read a review in LA Times book review at the time and the reviewer had criticized the author for recreating dialog between Sam and Florence. The author did take a lot of her information from diaries and probably did have to fill in at some points, but it was based on thorough research. Sometimes the author is forced to invent some conversations in order to make the story cohesive.
I thought this book, clearly based on factual information, was fascinating.
October 6, 2020
This is one of my favorite books this year! I'd never heard of this lady but she's one of the bravest ever. She traveled Africa for years during the same time as David Livingston. Twice she watched them, barely conscious, dig her grave but she just kept going. The book is long because she had nine lives.
February 28, 2016
They say that truth is stranger than fiction and this novel of the amazing life of Florence Baker is truly unbelievable.
Barbara Maria Szasz (the future Florence Baker) was born in Transylvania in 1845. At the age of 4 her mother and brothers were murdered by soldiers during the Hungarian Revolution. She then fled with her nursemaid, walking miles, to a refugee camp in the Ottoman Empire. When her nursemaid disappears Florence is kidnapped and taken to a harem where she is raised until the age of 14 when she would be sold at auction to the highest bidder in 1859.
By chance, a Englishman named Sam Baker is at the auction out of curiosity, he is instantly smitten with Florence but is outbid. He bribes the guard and they flee.
Florence's next adventure begins..................together they go in search of the source of the Nile in Africa.
Most of the book is concerned with their first expedition and of the many problems they encountered, including mutiny, surviving serious illness many times, of hostile tribesmen, malnutrition, danger at almost every turn, sandstorms, unreliable porters and the torrential rain!
This is one of the most fascinating life stories I've ever read. I wondered why I had never heard of these explorers before, why hadn't I learned about them in school? Florence's bravery and determination as she stayed by Sam's side are an absolute inspiration. Sheik Achmet of Wat el Negur described her as 'having a heart stronger than a man's and is afraid of nothing'. Sam thought she had the heart of a lion.
Throughout it all Florence and Sam had forged an unbreakable bond that would last a lifetime.
Pat Shipman's novel was very compelling though some of the attention to detail I did find a bit boring. But at no time did I consider not finishing it as I was always eager to learn more of this extraordinary couple.
This is a book about romance, danger, exploration into uncharted territory, Victorian double-standards, the African slave trade, that I would not hesitate to recommend.
Barbara Maria Szasz (the future Florence Baker) was born in Transylvania in 1845. At the age of 4 her mother and brothers were murdered by soldiers during the Hungarian Revolution. She then fled with her nursemaid, walking miles, to a refugee camp in the Ottoman Empire. When her nursemaid disappears Florence is kidnapped and taken to a harem where she is raised until the age of 14 when she would be sold at auction to the highest bidder in 1859.
By chance, a Englishman named Sam Baker is at the auction out of curiosity, he is instantly smitten with Florence but is outbid. He bribes the guard and they flee.
Florence's next adventure begins..................together they go in search of the source of the Nile in Africa.
Most of the book is concerned with their first expedition and of the many problems they encountered, including mutiny, surviving serious illness many times, of hostile tribesmen, malnutrition, danger at almost every turn, sandstorms, unreliable porters and the torrential rain!
This is one of the most fascinating life stories I've ever read. I wondered why I had never heard of these explorers before, why hadn't I learned about them in school? Florence's bravery and determination as she stayed by Sam's side are an absolute inspiration. Sheik Achmet of Wat el Negur described her as 'having a heart stronger than a man's and is afraid of nothing'. Sam thought she had the heart of a lion.
Throughout it all Florence and Sam had forged an unbreakable bond that would last a lifetime.
Pat Shipman's novel was very compelling though some of the attention to detail I did find a bit boring. But at no time did I consider not finishing it as I was always eager to learn more of this extraordinary couple.
This is a book about romance, danger, exploration into uncharted territory, Victorian double-standards, the African slave trade, that I would not hesitate to recommend.
May 1, 2025
2,5⭐️
Story of the highly ambitious and exploring Baker couple who, in the second half of the 19th Century, choose to make their lives difficult by going on miserable trips into Northern Africa. This makes them quiet miserable themselves most of the time, which makes this not a very enjoyable read.
Somewhat interesting though for the insight it provides into the Slave trade around the time that the English were very active in putting a stop to it.
Story of the highly ambitious and exploring Baker couple who, in the second half of the 19th Century, choose to make their lives difficult by going on miserable trips into Northern Africa. This makes them quiet miserable themselves most of the time, which makes this not a very enjoyable read.
Somewhat interesting though for the insight it provides into the Slave trade around the time that the English were very active in putting a stop to it.
April 13, 2025
What an incredible story of survival! Such a strong woman Florence to endure all those travels with her Sam by her side. Many times of life and death circumstances, how the endured, pressed on, became resilient, and never gave up.
two brave young couples, Sam and Flooey.
So many battle, abolishing the slave trade and found that’s humanly right.
A must read for history lovers of 19th century
two brave young couples, Sam and Flooey.
So many battle, abolishing the slave trade and found that’s humanly right.
A must read for history lovers of 19th century
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2022
This is an amazing account of Florence Baker's life -- orphaned at young age in 19th-century Hungary, raised in a family that treated her as their own child until they put her up for sale as a slave at age 14, and then rescued by an Englishman, Samuel Baker. She and Baker went on to fame for their travels to find the source of the Nile, through what are now Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. The trips were harrowing. I lost count of the physical ailments they experienced, from malnutrion to malaria to "bilious fever" and more. The trips were also discouraging in another sense, as the Bakers fought against the slave trade and the corruption that facilitated it.
January 28, 2013
Lady Florence Baker accompanied her husband Sir Samuel Baker on several expeditions in Africa and Sudan. They discovered the source of the White Nile and named Lake Albert. They also worked to abolish the slave trade. This is the story of their amazing love affair and partnership begins when Sam attends a harem slave auction and rescues Florence. I read this book because my best friend's family is related to Sir Samuel and I grew up hearing about his adventures. This book explains the history, politics, and customs of the times. Shipman wove the facts and family legends into a great read. I hated to have it end. Apparently it has been optioned for film.
July 13, 2010
Best book I have read for ages and I don't usually like factual books. The true story of Sam and Florence Baker was told as in fiction with them relating what was going on, their feelings etc though of course these were really the words of the author, Pat Shipman. The sources for her 'facts' are found at the end of the book. Small pictures and maps also lighten the factual content. Above all, it is a fascinating tale of 19th Century exploration in Africa akin to the stories of my favourite fictional writer, Wilbur Smith.
November 4, 2011
An excellent and fascinating book. From the harem to a Victorian explorer...what a life!
April 10, 2025
Review published in the New Zealand Herald, 12 February 2005
"Lifelong love and devotion"
To the Heart of the Nile
Pat Shipman
(Corgi Books, $29.95)
Reviewed by Philippa Jamieson
'The nubile girls would be sold in January 1859': so begins this lively biography of a courageous Hungarian woman. When Florence Szász was a small child, her family was killed during the Hungarian revolution, and she was taken from a refugee camp to be raised in an Ottoman Empire harem. The harem was full of girls who had been kidnapped or bought, and were being raised to be sold as virginal concubines or slaves.
It was not until the day of the auction that Florence, then 14, realised she was to be sold. Fortunately for her, a rich English explorer was in attendance, despite his opposition to slavery. Samuel Baker was taken with this proud girl, found himself unexpectedly in possession of her, and equally unexpectedly, they fell in love.
Europeans were mapping the upper reaches of the Nile at the time. Baker longed for more adventure, and found in Florence a plucky girl who was keen to be his travel companion. They made two journeys up the Nile in the 1860s and 70s, each lasting about four years, and discovered Lake Albert, for which Sam was knighted.
These travels make up the bulk of the book, and the author writes evocatively of their adventures and trials: the scorching desert heat, hostile tribes and wild animals, inhospitable jungles and marshes, mutinous porters, hunger, sickness and death amongst their party.
Pat Shipman is an anthropologist whose previous books have focused on human origins and palaeontology. Here she fleshes out her thorough research with imagined thoughts and dialogue, which makes for vivid characters and a narrative akin to an historical novel, although at times the style is overblown and sentimental. It is unfortunate that there are no references in the text to the extensive notes at the back of the book.
The author portrays Florence as a shrewd and intelligent woman whose knowledge of Arabic and familiarity with Arabic and African cultures (from the harem) make a large contribution to the success of their travels.
Florence can ride a horse and shoot an animal – or an ambushing tribesman – if she has to.
On the second trip Sam was charged with the mission of eradicating the slave trade along the White Nile. It was a huge task, but he made great inroads at least for a time. There is much detail about this fascinating period of history, but the author sticks to the biography and misses the opportunity to put slavery in a wider, global context. Similarly, she chooses not to include much discussion of the status of women, beyond Florence's own position.
Florence and Sam eventually married and buried rumours of Florence's past before returning to England, where they were hailed as heroes. Florence was fêted as the devoted wife who followed her husband through thick and thin, but Queen Victoria refused to receive her at court, having heard rumours of intimacy before marriage.
This biography suffers somewhat from a lack of material directly from the subject herself. Although Florence's diaries are quoted occasionally, there are many more quotes from the diaries, letters, and books of her more prolific husband. The book is subtitled 'Florence Baker's Extraordinary Life from the Harem to the Heart of Africa', and the author has clearly made an effort to see things from Florence's point of view, but Sam inevitably looms large and often. This is really a joint biography, a story of lifelong love and devotion and epic adventure that makes for a great read; expect to see it made into a lush period drama for TV.
"Lifelong love and devotion"
To the Heart of the Nile
Pat Shipman
(Corgi Books, $29.95)
Reviewed by Philippa Jamieson
'The nubile girls would be sold in January 1859': so begins this lively biography of a courageous Hungarian woman. When Florence Szász was a small child, her family was killed during the Hungarian revolution, and she was taken from a refugee camp to be raised in an Ottoman Empire harem. The harem was full of girls who had been kidnapped or bought, and were being raised to be sold as virginal concubines or slaves.
It was not until the day of the auction that Florence, then 14, realised she was to be sold. Fortunately for her, a rich English explorer was in attendance, despite his opposition to slavery. Samuel Baker was taken with this proud girl, found himself unexpectedly in possession of her, and equally unexpectedly, they fell in love.
Europeans were mapping the upper reaches of the Nile at the time. Baker longed for more adventure, and found in Florence a plucky girl who was keen to be his travel companion. They made two journeys up the Nile in the 1860s and 70s, each lasting about four years, and discovered Lake Albert, for which Sam was knighted.
These travels make up the bulk of the book, and the author writes evocatively of their adventures and trials: the scorching desert heat, hostile tribes and wild animals, inhospitable jungles and marshes, mutinous porters, hunger, sickness and death amongst their party.
Pat Shipman is an anthropologist whose previous books have focused on human origins and palaeontology. Here she fleshes out her thorough research with imagined thoughts and dialogue, which makes for vivid characters and a narrative akin to an historical novel, although at times the style is overblown and sentimental. It is unfortunate that there are no references in the text to the extensive notes at the back of the book.
The author portrays Florence as a shrewd and intelligent woman whose knowledge of Arabic and familiarity with Arabic and African cultures (from the harem) make a large contribution to the success of their travels.
Florence can ride a horse and shoot an animal – or an ambushing tribesman – if she has to.
On the second trip Sam was charged with the mission of eradicating the slave trade along the White Nile. It was a huge task, but he made great inroads at least for a time. There is much detail about this fascinating period of history, but the author sticks to the biography and misses the opportunity to put slavery in a wider, global context. Similarly, she chooses not to include much discussion of the status of women, beyond Florence's own position.
Florence and Sam eventually married and buried rumours of Florence's past before returning to England, where they were hailed as heroes. Florence was fêted as the devoted wife who followed her husband through thick and thin, but Queen Victoria refused to receive her at court, having heard rumours of intimacy before marriage.
This biography suffers somewhat from a lack of material directly from the subject herself. Although Florence's diaries are quoted occasionally, there are many more quotes from the diaries, letters, and books of her more prolific husband. The book is subtitled 'Florence Baker's Extraordinary Life from the Harem to the Heart of Africa', and the author has clearly made an effort to see things from Florence's point of view, but Sam inevitably looms large and often. This is really a joint biography, a story of lifelong love and devotion and epic adventure that makes for a great read; expect to see it made into a lush period drama for TV.
August 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book -- it's an epic story of a couple in a certain time and place-- but something has been bothering me about it. It is not the business about the book being neither entirely factual nor entirely fictional, it's the structure, mostly the chapter breaks. When I am reading between doing other things or before going to bed, I really appreciate an author who chooses a convenient place for me to stop reading if I wish but also leaves me anticipating the next chapter, whether it is now or later. As Sam and Florence Baker were slogging up the White Nile, I found myself counting the number of pages until the end of the chapter. Anna Karenina has shorter chapters!
I like the way that the footnotes were placed in the book. I love bibliographies and recognize the need for, sometimes numerous, footnotes but I hate footnotes that take up half the page and totally break up the story. Although there are over 300 footnotes in this book, they are end notes and the least intrusive I've ever seen.
The whining about how much of the book is fact and how much is fiction, recalls something Margaret Mahy once said:
I like the way that the footnotes were placed in the book. I love bibliographies and recognize the need for, sometimes numerous, footnotes but I hate footnotes that take up half the page and totally break up the story. Although there are over 300 footnotes in this book, they are end notes and the least intrusive I've ever seen.
The whining about how much of the book is fact and how much is fiction, recalls something Margaret Mahy once said:
This poor single word 'truth' has to bear a heavy burden. It is not fair to ask one word to do so much work when, unlike Humpty Dumpty, we exploit our labour force. We don't pay words extra when we ask them to carry a heavy weight on our behalf. ... I know by now that facts, even marvellous ones, slide around, and that people get things wrong, and the truest thing in science is wonder, just as it is in story. And I never forget that story is as important to human beings as science, more powerful at times because it is more subversive.
January 1, 2021
In 1959 Sam baker, an Englishman, finds himself the "owner' of a young woman, Florence, who has been raised in a Turkish harem. What develops is a story of some historical significance as far as their extraordinary travels together, the state of the slave trade in Africa, and the conditions of those British citizens sent to far away outposts. There are many historically based passages full of details of the travel conditions and dangers, and the weeks spent searching for a river mouth or a lake. The most amazing thing is that Florence went along and was helpful and very game to accompany her "husband." The maps help to illustrate the distance traveled by this intrepid couple
However, the book reads a bit oddly when there is supposed dialog between the couple and others. It sounds like historical fiction. But putting that aside, this is a story of high adventure and endearing love between two people who were thrown together by circumstances.
For me the best parts were those where they were traveling. Glance at a map, and then read the passage, and the feats of the trek become apparent: long camel rides, rivers that turn to muddy swamps, lakes with no visible ends, warring factions threatening their lives, desertion of porters, and months and months of no communication and even assumptions that they were dead.
The private letters and journal entries support the exploits of this daring duo. They courageously navigated around the "mysterious continent" and ended up living out their lives in England.
However, the book reads a bit oddly when there is supposed dialog between the couple and others. It sounds like historical fiction. But putting that aside, this is a story of high adventure and endearing love between two people who were thrown together by circumstances.
For me the best parts were those where they were traveling. Glance at a map, and then read the passage, and the feats of the trek become apparent: long camel rides, rivers that turn to muddy swamps, lakes with no visible ends, warring factions threatening their lives, desertion of porters, and months and months of no communication and even assumptions that they were dead.
The private letters and journal entries support the exploits of this daring duo. They courageously navigated around the "mysterious continent" and ended up living out their lives in England.
February 18, 2020
The book itself is written well enough, captivatingly in fact! What leaves me wanting concerns historical research in general. The fact that her husband, Samuel Baker and leader of the mid19th Century has countless biographies written about him, this appears to be the only succinct account of Florence Baker, his wife and partner along the Nile expedition. It is nothing short of disheartening to read, "all biography is ultimately fiction" practically as soon as opening the book. While I understand and respect the sentiment -- so much of biographical works are fallacy and the imaginary as well as the projected ! -- it would be wonderful to have something heavier to push the women of the past, well, out of historical fiction and into history.
March 5, 2021
3.5 stars. An amazing story of an amazing woman - and also the man by her side. Florence must’ve been a fascinating person to meet in person. The courage of both her and Sam shines through the pages, and their stamina seems tenfold to some people of today.
I found the ending a little rushed, and I did have to remind myself of some of the liberties Pat took during the imaginary conversations. However admittedly they also helped move the story along. I imagine a lot of care was taken during the construction of their history and these said liberties, and reviews alone warn that the imaginary play may not be for everyone.
I found the ending a little rushed, and I did have to remind myself of some of the liberties Pat took during the imaginary conversations. However admittedly they also helped move the story along. I imagine a lot of care was taken during the construction of their history and these said liberties, and reviews alone warn that the imaginary play may not be for everyone.
December 22, 2018
What an incredible life! Florence’s journey from a childhood full of loss and war, youth full of education and manners in a harem, devastation of being sold as a slave, rescued by the man who becomes the love of her life, adventures and sorrows of Africa, and then finally finding a family and home is amazing. What an example of a strong woman who knew what her values were and what she wanted in life and went after it with full heart and energy. What the world expected of her or what her role should be never had a chance.
January 18, 2020
Florence had an AMAZING life. Shipman also does a wonderful job of telling her story. Every morning I hated to put this one down and go to work. The only negative to this biography is the high amount of colonial racism, which can't be helped when quoting from primary sources. However, I wish Shipman would have acknowledged the African or Middle Eastern perspective of working with foreign invaders to provide a more equitable historical recounting.
February 26, 2017
Based on fact, this account of the exploration of Africa and the Nile by a couple in the 1850's reads more like fiction and makes a fascinating read. As long as one keeps in mind that the author is taking some literary license in describing the thoughts and conversation of her characters, the adventures, trials and tribulations described are amazing. This book really caught my imagination.
December 13, 2019
a great story about a woman (and her husband) who traveled in Africa in the 1860s in search of the origin of the Nile River. Great historical detail.....hard to believe it is true!
February 11, 2020
Although the treatment of the people by the English is unjust, horrible, prideful, one-sided, and patriarchal the author tells the story beautifully.
June 19, 2021
Creative chronicle, reads like a period novel. Illuminating and entertaining throughout.
September 26, 2021
An amazing woman and an incredible life!!!!!!
April 8, 2025
Abandoned on page 30 of 375. Hated the style. It was a docudrama rather than a proper biography.
May 25, 2025
Excellent history of early African exploration and a great love story. If you don’t want the truth about the slave trade, don’t read this book.
June 22, 2025
A wonderful book thank you
July 22, 2025
loved first half of the book, second half very much slowing down of excitement
April 12, 2013
A European orphaned at four years old, abducted into an Ottoman harem, and raised to become a concubine, Barbara Maria Szasz stood at a white slave auction, ordered to turn so that men could look at the round of her buttocks, the shape of her breasts, the dimple of her cheek, the depth of her eyes. Renamed Florenz, at fourteen she was a fetching prize for the highest bidder, the Pasha of Viddin. She would lead a comfortable life as a toy for his nightly visits until her breasts began to sag and her cheeks wrinkled. After that she would train other maidens to become good concubines, living and dying within the walls of the harem.
That might have happened had Sam Baker, a wealthy English adventurer, not been at the auction. Broken-nosed, bushy-bearded, he had accompanied Duleep Singh. Singh was the maharajah who so desperately wanted Queen Victoria to make him a prince that he gave up the entire Punjab region and the hugely brilliant Kohinoor diamond for the title. Baker, his minder, had been on a Danube hunting trip with him.
Baker caught her eye, and couldn't turn away. He wanted her, and badly. She was very beautiful and she appeared very angry. He was attracted to her but was also moved by compassion and empathy for her plight. Unwilling or unable to outbid the Pasha, he undertook a very dangerous adventure. He stole her from the auction and smuggled her out of Ottoman territory into the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Their chemistry was immediate and they became intimate during the journey, deepening over the years into lasting love.
A widower, Baker left his young family in England with his sister while he traveled the world. This was the age of Victorian prudery, when table legs were covered because they suggested human anatomy. Rather than return home with his young lover, Baker took her, at sixteen, with him into the uncharted regions of the Dark Continent, into areas of Africa far beyond maps. In Medieval times, such places were inscribed on maps by the warning, Here be dragons. With a safari, bearers, scouts, and hunters, they trekked over savannahs, and through forests to discover the source of the Nile. Baker also hoped to rescue John Speke and James Grant, lost somewhere in a region that remained a question mark for the European imagination.
The journey down the Nile took four years. Fluent in Arabic, she often acted as interpreter. He and his young companion witnessed female circumcision, negotiated with hostile tribes, and nearly died of fever. In fact, they found Speke and Grant, and discovered the source of the Nile, which they named Lake Albert, as companion to Lake Victoria, christened by Speke. They also discovered Murchison Falls. In their story, we understand that Baker was not only attracted to his young lover. He had seen her anger but also rescued her because he abhorred slavery. In their travels they entered markets in which slaves were bartered for elephant tusks. Baker swore that the Nile would be free of slavers and slaves.
Back in England, they found their welcome less than gracious, especially for Florence, who was shunned as a loose woman. Queen Victoria refused to receive her in court, although Prince Bertie, Baker's friend, observed regularly to the queen that Florence was quite ladylike.
On the other hand, Sam was awarded a gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society and a knighthood from the Queen. This, along with their marriage, made them more acceptable. As Sir Sam Baker and Lady Florence Baker, they eventually moved in the circles of marquesses, dukes, and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Victoria remained aloof.
They should have had no further needs; respectable society was theirs. They had wealth, privilege, and position, but this was not enough. Baker received a commission from the Viceroy of Egypt. It was to exterminate the black slave trade in Africa, a trade that fed the Ottoman Empire. Despite a small army and navy, Florence and Sam almost lost their lives this time. During his first adventure, Sam Baker had sworn against slavery as his enemy, one that he would wipe out. It was an enemy, though, that almost vanquished them both. This journey was not the same as it was for her at sixteen. Dangerous, the adventure left her frightened and deceived by native tribesmen as they fought with the Bakers and one another. She became disillusioned and never returned to Africa.
Lady Florence arrived in London by a rather incredible series of events. Her father was a Transylvanian officer who wound up on the wrong side of a revolution. Born into a comfortable family in 1841, she was orphaned and forced from her home in Transylvania during the 1848 Hungarian Revolution and then was abducted into a harem from a refugee camp. Nobody could have predicted the destiny that awaited her.
That might have happened had Sam Baker, a wealthy English adventurer, not been at the auction. Broken-nosed, bushy-bearded, he had accompanied Duleep Singh. Singh was the maharajah who so desperately wanted Queen Victoria to make him a prince that he gave up the entire Punjab region and the hugely brilliant Kohinoor diamond for the title. Baker, his minder, had been on a Danube hunting trip with him.
Baker caught her eye, and couldn't turn away. He wanted her, and badly. She was very beautiful and she appeared very angry. He was attracted to her but was also moved by compassion and empathy for her plight. Unwilling or unable to outbid the Pasha, he undertook a very dangerous adventure. He stole her from the auction and smuggled her out of Ottoman territory into the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Their chemistry was immediate and they became intimate during the journey, deepening over the years into lasting love.
A widower, Baker left his young family in England with his sister while he traveled the world. This was the age of Victorian prudery, when table legs were covered because they suggested human anatomy. Rather than return home with his young lover, Baker took her, at sixteen, with him into the uncharted regions of the Dark Continent, into areas of Africa far beyond maps. In Medieval times, such places were inscribed on maps by the warning, Here be dragons. With a safari, bearers, scouts, and hunters, they trekked over savannahs, and through forests to discover the source of the Nile. Baker also hoped to rescue John Speke and James Grant, lost somewhere in a region that remained a question mark for the European imagination.
The journey down the Nile took four years. Fluent in Arabic, she often acted as interpreter. He and his young companion witnessed female circumcision, negotiated with hostile tribes, and nearly died of fever. In fact, they found Speke and Grant, and discovered the source of the Nile, which they named Lake Albert, as companion to Lake Victoria, christened by Speke. They also discovered Murchison Falls. In their story, we understand that Baker was not only attracted to his young lover. He had seen her anger but also rescued her because he abhorred slavery. In their travels they entered markets in which slaves were bartered for elephant tusks. Baker swore that the Nile would be free of slavers and slaves.
Back in England, they found their welcome less than gracious, especially for Florence, who was shunned as a loose woman. Queen Victoria refused to receive her in court, although Prince Bertie, Baker's friend, observed regularly to the queen that Florence was quite ladylike.
On the other hand, Sam was awarded a gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society and a knighthood from the Queen. This, along with their marriage, made them more acceptable. As Sir Sam Baker and Lady Florence Baker, they eventually moved in the circles of marquesses, dukes, and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Victoria remained aloof.
They should have had no further needs; respectable society was theirs. They had wealth, privilege, and position, but this was not enough. Baker received a commission from the Viceroy of Egypt. It was to exterminate the black slave trade in Africa, a trade that fed the Ottoman Empire. Despite a small army and navy, Florence and Sam almost lost their lives this time. During his first adventure, Sam Baker had sworn against slavery as his enemy, one that he would wipe out. It was an enemy, though, that almost vanquished them both. This journey was not the same as it was for her at sixteen. Dangerous, the adventure left her frightened and deceived by native tribesmen as they fought with the Bakers and one another. She became disillusioned and never returned to Africa.
Lady Florence arrived in London by a rather incredible series of events. Her father was a Transylvanian officer who wound up on the wrong side of a revolution. Born into a comfortable family in 1841, she was orphaned and forced from her home in Transylvania during the 1848 Hungarian Revolution and then was abducted into a harem from a refugee camp. Nobody could have predicted the destiny that awaited her.
November 30, 2015
The fascinating story of Florence Baker who was orphaned and raised in a harem in the Ottoman empire as a white slave. It is a fictionalized version, but largely based on journals written by herself and other characters in the story, so I believe mostly represents truthful events.
When she was taken to the slave market to be sold, she caught the attention of Sam Baker, an English gentleman, who was hunting in the area. He managed to spirit her away from the harem with the help of her eunuch protector. She was only about 14 years old when she started her first trip through areas of North and Central Africa with Sam, some of which had never been visited by white people. Sam fell in love with her, unsurprisingly due to her beauty and laudable courage. He eventually married her in a secret ceremony in London; so that society in general would accept their union, and his family would not be the subject of scandal. Theirs was a lifelong love story. Florence demonstrated incredible loyalty, devotion and courage in the face of danger. She was an advocate for the liberation of African slaves and worked tirelessly to stop the slave trade in the Great Lakes area, together with Sam. They made some inroads into minimizing the trade and were remembered years later by some of the tribes in the area for their work in this field. They named Florence 'The Morning Star'due to her long blond hair. The local people retained an enduring admiration for the pair, so that others who travelled in the area years later just had to mention their names to be welcomed by some of the tribes.
After they had completed two prolonged journeys to Egypt, following the Nile to the Great Lakes area and working to abolish the slave trade, Sam was acknowledged by the Nation as a great leader, adventurer and the discoverer of the source of one of the Nile tributaries. The Queen recognized his contribution and named him Sir Sam Baker. He retired to a country house with Florence to live out the remainder of their days.
When she was taken to the slave market to be sold, she caught the attention of Sam Baker, an English gentleman, who was hunting in the area. He managed to spirit her away from the harem with the help of her eunuch protector. She was only about 14 years old when she started her first trip through areas of North and Central Africa with Sam, some of which had never been visited by white people. Sam fell in love with her, unsurprisingly due to her beauty and laudable courage. He eventually married her in a secret ceremony in London; so that society in general would accept their union, and his family would not be the subject of scandal. Theirs was a lifelong love story. Florence demonstrated incredible loyalty, devotion and courage in the face of danger. She was an advocate for the liberation of African slaves and worked tirelessly to stop the slave trade in the Great Lakes area, together with Sam. They made some inroads into minimizing the trade and were remembered years later by some of the tribes in the area for their work in this field. They named Florence 'The Morning Star'due to her long blond hair. The local people retained an enduring admiration for the pair, so that others who travelled in the area years later just had to mention their names to be welcomed by some of the tribes.
After they had completed two prolonged journeys to Egypt, following the Nile to the Great Lakes area and working to abolish the slave trade, Sam was acknowledged by the Nation as a great leader, adventurer and the discoverer of the source of one of the Nile tributaries. The Queen recognized his contribution and named him Sir Sam Baker. He retired to a country house with Florence to live out the remainder of their days.
February 18, 2017
First off, the subject matter was fascinating - Florence and Sam Baker had amazing lives. Florence started as a harem slave after trouble in Hungary (which I went and looked up on Wikipedia,) The attendant description of the harem as being much like a convent school was probably as surprising to me as it was to Sam Baker, although I have no doubt that it was apt. Their exploration of Central Africa was a fascinating story. And then there's the whole assimilation ito English society, which was yet another interesting bit.
There was so much strange and wonderful history in here - the Mahdi, which I only know from the Flashman book about it (which I now can't identify, hrmm. Am I now imagining Flashman places where even
George MacDonald Fraser didn't put him?), the touring Dutch ladies who popped up, etc.
It's also a reminder that while most of the European colonial undertakings may have been disruptive and disastrous, the English determination to wipe out slavery did have some positive results.
The depictions of the heat and misery of African travel were enough to recall me to my own (much less extreme) time in Africa, and allowed me to imagine scenes fairly clearly; but I note that I felt like some of the prose (in the relationship parts) was a little overbearingly florid. Maybe Victorian ladies talked like that, but my cynical modern self found it a little off-putting.
Overall an engaging and interesting look at a woman whose life was much more interesting than most fiction.
There was so much strange and wonderful history in here - the Mahdi, which I only know from the Flashman book about it (which I now can't identify, hrmm. Am I now imagining Flashman places where even
George MacDonald Fraser didn't put him?), the touring Dutch ladies who popped up, etc.
It's also a reminder that while most of the European colonial undertakings may have been disruptive and disastrous, the English determination to wipe out slavery did have some positive results.
The depictions of the heat and misery of African travel were enough to recall me to my own (much less extreme) time in Africa, and allowed me to imagine scenes fairly clearly; but I note that I felt like some of the prose (in the relationship parts) was a little overbearingly florid. Maybe Victorian ladies talked like that, but my cynical modern self found it a little off-putting.
Overall an engaging and interesting look at a woman whose life was much more interesting than most fiction.
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