Into Africa is the true account of what happened when the world famous explorer Doctor David Livingstone disappeared while he was in the treacherous African terrain he loved so much. Henry Morton Stanley was the journalist who was sent to search for him. Everyone knows the line that was uttered at their now infamous meeting - “Doctor Livingstone, I presume?” - but little is known about what lead up to that famous quote. This book is the story behind the famous line.

There are descriptions of the trials of the trail, run-ins with the natives (including having to pay “tribute” to keep from being eaten), fighting malaria (the description of which is a bit too graphic in places) and exploding volcanoes (Vesuvius). Pictures are included as well as a map that shows both Livingstone's and Stanley’s routes.

There are personal tidbits of information about each man that are sometimes heartrending, such as the bit about Stanley having been whipped and sexually abused as a child. The whole tone of the book is more like a novel than a historical tome. Dugard pays careful attention to plotting and pacing. He sets scenes better than most novelists do. When he writes dialogue, it is natural. He takes plain ordinary facts and makes them come alive with verve and feeling.

If you like history, you will love this book. In fact, if you like historical novels you will love this book.