How did David Livingstone transform from a humble Scottish mill worker into the most famous Victorian explorer of the African continent? Tim Jeal utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to re-evaluate Livingstone's complex legacy, moving beyond the hagiographic portrayals of the past to examine his failures, his scientific contributions, and his complicated relationship with the slave trade. The author provides a balanced assessment of Livingstone's motivations, mapping his physical expeditions against the geopolitical climate of the British Empire.

Historians and biographers frequently cite this work as the definitive account of Livingstone's life due to its meticulous use of previously neglected primary sources. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a thorough, objective look at a polarizing historical figure.