Books in the Cambridge Library Collection - African Studies series

Sir Samuel Baker (1821-93) was one of the most famous Victorian explorers, and the memoir of his celebrated expedition, first published in 1866, remains amongst the most important accounts of African exploration of the age. Written with great colour, it is a compelling account of an historic adventure.

In this two-volume work, published in 1860, British explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-90) recounts his journey around the lakes of present-day Tanzania. In Volume 1 Burton begins in Zanzibar before landing up in Unyamwezi, 'the far-famed land over the moon'.

Sir Richard Burton (1821-1890) was a British explorer famous for his nineteenth-century travels. This 1863 publication documents his mission to investigate West African mortality. In it he vividly recounts his journey to Africa and observations of life, work and death across the Gold Coast, Accra, Lagos and Fernando Po.

Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) was a journalist and explorer renowned for his adventures in Africa. These volumes, first published in 1885, provide an account of Stanley's exploration of the Congo river in the service of Leopold II of Belgium between 1879 and 1884. Volume 1 covers 1879-83.

David Livingstone (1813-73) was a nineteenth-century British explorer and missionary. His 1866 search for the source of the Nile forms the core of this two-volume diary, published posthumously in 1874. Volume 1 describes Livingstone's journey from Zanzibar to Ujiji, and his famous meeting with the journalist Henry Morton Stanley.

First published in 1869, this two-volume jointly authored work gives an account of a mission for the National Geographical Society undertaken by John Petherick (1813-82) and his wife Katherine (1827-77). Volume 1 focuses on the first part of the Pethericks' journey to Gondokoro in the Sudan.

This pioneering account, published in 1857-1858, was a foundational text in the study of African history and ethnography. Barth set out to 'represent the tribes and nations ... in their historical and ethnographical relation to the rest of mankind'. Cited by Darwin, it is still regarded as an important source.

English writer and explorer Sir John Barrow (1764-1848) spent 1797-8 exploring the recently acquired Cape Colony. His observations were published in two volumes, with the first appearing in 1801 and the second following in 1804. Volume 1 covers his journey around much of the territory's vast interior.

Originally published in 1900, this biography of English explorer William Cotton Oswell (1818-93) was compiled by his eldest son from correspondence with his family and friends. Volume 1 describes the seven years he spent in India, and his five African expeditions.

This two-volume biography of John William Colenso (1814-83), the controversial first Bishop of Natal, written by his close friend and follower George Cox, was first published in 1888. Volume 1 describes Colenso's youth, his early work in South Africa and the rise of opposition to his theology and opinions.

Written by the explorer and diplomat Sir Richard Burton (1821-90), this two-volume account of Zanzibar and of the 1857-9 expedition attempting to discover the source of the Nile was first published in 1872.

Written by explorers Richard Burton and Verney Lovett Cameron, this two-volume memoir describes the journey the two men took into West Africa in 1881 to assess the potential of local gold mines. First published in 1883, Volume 1 chronicles Burton's journey from Trieste to Sierra Leone.

First published in 1876, this two-volume work describes two expeditions in West Africa undertaken by explorer and diplomat Richard Burton during his consulship in Equatorial Guinea in the 1860s. The first volume records Burton's trip up the Gaboon River and includes extensive ethnographical and geographical information.

The detailed account of a military expedition ordered by Ismail Pasha, Ottoman ruler of Egypt, to suppress the slave trade of Central Africa between 1869 and 1873. The first volume starts with preparations for the voyage and ends with Baker having established stability in Gondokoro and about to march south.

This two-volume work, published in 1830, recounts the failed mission of Hugh Clapperton (1788-1827) and Richard Lander (1804-1834) to explore the River Niger in West Africa. Volume 2 discusses Clapperton's death and Lander's eventual return to England.

Sent on a diplomatic mission to convince the king of Dahomey (present-day Benin) to put a stop to the slave trade, British explorer Sir Richard Burton (1821-1890) recounts his experience in this two-volume work, published in 1864. Volume 1 covers his journey and introduction to the king.

Stationed as consul on the West African outpost of Fernando Po (modern-day Equatorial Guinea), the British adventurer Richard Burton (1821-1890) decided to explore the area, which he wrote about in this two-volume work, published in 1863. In Volume 2 Burton describes his ascent of Mount Cameroon.

George McCall Theal (1837-1919) was a prolific South African historian and civil servant. These volumes, first published in 1908, contain Theal's history of South Africa between 1795-1894, in which he focuses on the political history of the country. Volume 1 covers the history of Cape Colony 1795-1828.

George McCall Theal (1837-1919) was a prolific South African historian and civil servant. These volumes, first published in 1907, contain his detailed history of South Africa between 1505-1795 from its Portuguese origin to Dutch administration. These volumes are reissued from the 1910 edition. Volume 1 covers 1505-1667.

This two-volume work is based on Winterbottom's experiences as a doctor in Sierra Leone, which resulted in a very positive opinion of the country and its inhabitants. In Volume 1 he offers a many-faceted picture of the climate, history and traditions of Sierra Leone.

H. A. MacMichael was a member of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan government between 1905 and 1933. First published in 1922, this two-volume work - the result of almost twenty years' ethnological research - provides a comprehensive history of the indigenous groups in Sudan. Volume 1 contains the history, from pre-Islamic times.

In this 1909 autobiography, we learn how the explorer Henry Morton Stanley was driven to succeed by his troubled childhood. After his death, his wife completed the book with letters he wrote while travelling, so that his avowed aim - to encourage impoverished people to realise their ambitions - was met.

This two-volume biography of the traveller and antiquary Henry Salt (1780-1827) was published in 1834. Volume 2 describes Salt's later career in Egypt, as a diplomat and especially as a pioneering archaeologist, as well as his negotiations over the future of his own spectacular collection of Egyptian artefacts.

This two-volume biography of the traveller and antiquary Henry Salt (1780-1827) was published in 1834. Volume 1 tells the story of Salt's early life and his career up to the famous removal of the colossal statue of Ramesses II ('Ozymandias') from Thebes to the British Museum in 1816.

Following a missionary trip to Australia, the horticulturalist and naturalist James Backhouse (1794-1869) travelled home via Mauritius and South Africa. This 1844 work is adapted from his journals and provides an illustrated account of that journey. It contains rich descriptions of the people he encountered and detailed botanical observations.

In the latter part of the nineteenth century, European powers embarked on determined expansion into Africa. The geographer John Scott Keltie (1840-1927) wrote of the 'scramble' at the time, publishing in 1893 this authoritative work on the subject, here reissued in its revised and augmented second edition of 1895.

Nathaniel Pearce's two-volume autobiographical account, published 1831, is particularly interesting for its detailed information about the land and people of Ethiopia. In Volume 2, the situation in Abyssinia becomes dangerous and Pearce decides to escape down the Nile. The journal ends abruptly in 1819, a year before his death.

Nathaniel Pearce's two-volume autobiographical account, published 1831, is particularly interesting for its detailed information about the land and people of Ethiopia. Volume 1 tells of Pearce's early life and his African travels and also contains an account of his friend William Coffin's journey to the city of Gondar.

In this important study, first published in 1821, the geographer James MacQueen documents his discoveries about the River Niger. Drawing on evidence from a range of authorities, he shows that the Niger terminates in the Atlantic Ocean, opening up trading opportunities between Africa and European countries.

Published in 1840, this work by James MacQueen (1778-1870) compiled all the then known information to assist explorers, traders and missionaries in opening up Africa to European influence. He believed that many expeditions and attempts at abolishing the slave trade in Africa had been ineffective because of European ignorance.