Product Description
This is a study of the famous controversy between Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke, fellow explorers who quarreled over Speke's claim to have discovered the source of the Nile during their African expedition in 1857-59.Speke died of a gunshot wound, probably accidental, the day before a scheduled debate with Burton in 1864.Burton has had the upper hand in subsequent accounts.Speke has been called a "cad."In light of new evidence and after a careful reading of duelling texts, Carnochan concludes that the case against Speke remains unproven-and that the story, as normally told, displays the inescapable uncertainty of historical narrative. ... Read more

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Offers a thrilling adventure through unknown worlds, while teaching landforms, geography, history, science and biography. These are high-interest books, with strong human interest and an adventure story narrative. Ages 10-14. ... Read more

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A centennial biography which draws on new material from untapped manuscript sources in order to clarify events in Richard Burton's life hitherto hardly dealt with. The author offers a challenging and original psychological portrait of this poet, scholar, soldier, archaeologist and explorer. Richard Burton discovered Lake Tanganyika and took part in the notorious search for the source of the Nile. He risked death visiting the sacred place of Mecca, disguised as a Muslim, and again penetrating the forbidden city of Harar. He travelled extensively in North and South America, India, Europe and the Middle East. A talented translator, he produced English versions of Camoens's "Lusiads", the "Kama Sutra" and, most famously, "The Arabian Nights". However, if the public man had to his credit so many resounding achievements, the private man was tortured, divided, and deeply ambivalent. Politically reactionary and a hater of women, blacks, sociologists, egalitarians, Jews and the Irish, Burton was a mass of contradictions. Frank McLynn is a biographer and historian and has also published "Charles Edward Stuart: A Tragedy in Many Acts" and "Stanley: The Making of an African Explorer". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Freudian flights of fancy...
This is a fair study on the life of Burton though it really doesnt shed any new light on this extraordinary individual, other than psychoanalytic musings on his childhood, grasping at the reasons behind his motivations for his in-depth studies on sex, his neurotic drive to be constantly on the move, his marriage and relationships. The texts major flaw is this particular approach to the subject; (that intellectual sixties trend of psychoanalysing the dead) reinforcing the myth that Burton was the stereotypical Victorian, demonstrating all the biases, racism and limited view of the world that we associate with this stereotype. This man goes way beyond the Victorian model and certainly transcends Freudian flights of fancy. If you can ignore McLynns psychological method, this biography is a welcome addition to Burton studies.

R.F. Burton is a difficult study because there are so many sides to the man. In fact one can certainly classify him as a phenomenon. He was a linguist of genius, and there are scholars who claim he was the linguist of the 19th century: a poet, scholar, soldier, archaeologist, anthropologist, Master swordsman, mystic and genuine seeker of the Divine. As a sexologist he anticipated Freud, and sought to open the subject of study against typical Victorian opposition. His writings occasionally indulge in the common racism of the times, though his observations and comments of unknown cultures and particular characters in those cultures can be insightful and sympathetic. Similar to most individuals of depth and genius, Burton was a contradiction, and this biography more than displays these contradictions.

The psychoanalytic technique to delve into a subject can be questioned. As one writer has said, it is difficult enough to rely on the results of psychoanalysis in writing about a live person, let a lone a dead one, with no opportunity to respond to allegations such as misogynist, self-destructive type and latent homosexual. To use this technique, distilling this fascinating man down to a Freudian case study is a disservice to the man and his work. However, as stated above, if you can side step these useless speculations, that really doesnt reveal anything new about the man, this biography is informative and worth looking into. ... Read more

Product Description
An unlikely trio comprised of an Indian, a Tibetan monk, and Sir Richard Burton--the famous soldier and explorer--search for refuge in the Utah Territory in 1862, in this new novel by the Spur Award-winning author of "Stone Song" Targeted print ads. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

"Flabbergaster"
I found this novel a delightful and interesting read. The inclusion of Buddhist spirituality, an amazingly international array of characters (even a Chinese Muslim (Uighur) tavernkeeper), and emphasis on the Native American experience, make this novel deeper and more meaningful than most other novels set in the American West. Though the plot is intriguing, the novel is at its best in depicting its colorful and diverse characters (Taylor, buoyant half-Indian, with a passion for music, who pairs up with Sun moon, beautiful Tibetan nun)and settings, from a Digger Indian village to Mormon Utah. Despite its realistic depictions of the racism and violence of the period, the story remains light-hearted and humorous. Sir Richard Burton, Nile explorer and drug addict, was particularly enjoyable. It would have been more interesting if his Sufi beliefs were explored a bit further, but of course he was somewhat of a side character.

This book "rocks" !
Everything about this book kis great. Awesome and *original* story line, interesting historical facts, and wild adventure.This is the first book I've ever read by Blevins, and now I can't wait to order his other books, pronto. If you like historically based novels and unique :-) story lines, this is the book for you.

Rock Child
This book is a first person account of a perilous journey taken across the wild west.What makes this book unique is the company the teller keeps.A half breed of unknown origins is the teller, and he is in the company of aTibetan nun whom he has fallen in love with, and a spy for theBritish--who's secretly practicing a 'heathen' religion!If you likewesterns...try this one!It's a western with a twist! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Great book - you should buy it
This book says its about Richard Burton and his companion Speke as they explore East Africa.The characterization is great!Its full of adventure!There are no references so who can say if its accurate. The details are good too. Its good to read, even if you are not interested in history. It stands on its own.

lush, adventure in search of the source of the Nile..
one of the last great geographical explorations was in order to find the source of the Nile..British Victorian hero and adventurer Richard Burton took a young John Speke under his wing and attempted to find the answer to this great mystery..Burton, translator of the 'Kuma Sutra' was an adventurer through and through..wanting to experience native customs and cultures and to understand them not just use them for the purposes of the journey. The relationship between Burton and Speke is the heart and soul of this book. Their differences become more profound the deeper their adventure takes them and finally Speke leaves Burton as he goes for the glory for himself. Burton's life comes to a sad end for such a richly led life. This is an incredible book. Rich, exciting, thrilling.

Fumbling for the source of the Nile
A marvellous novel about the brilliant explorer and writer Richard Burtonand his young protege John Hanning Speke and there ill-fated attempt tolocate the source of the White Nile in the east African highlands.In theprocess we see the difficulties faced by Victorian explorers and you canonly marvel at the bravery of the men to undertake such journeys.

We seethe recriminations that erupt in London when Speke claims (rightly butwithout real proof) that Victoria is the source and how Burton is sidelinedand eventually is lucky to find positions in the worst jobs in the foreignservice.A sad end for one of the worlds greatest explorers.I can feelno sympathy for the end that Speke met with, but read it for yourself.Nowa movie, but the film cannot capture a fraction of the book. ... Read more

Product Description

Cliff Janeway is back! The Bookman's Promise marks the eagerly awaited return of Denver bookman-author John Dunning and the award-winning crime novel series that helped to turn the nation on to first-edition book collecting.

First, it was Booked to Die, then The Bookman's Wake. Now John Dunning fans, old and new, will rejoice in The Bookman's Promise, a richly nuanced new Janeway novel that juxtaposes past and present as Denver ex-cop and bookman Cliff Janeway searches for a book and a killer.

The quest begins when an old woman, Josephine Gallant, learns that Janeway has recently bought at auction a signed first edition by the legendary nineteenth-century explorer Richard Francis Burton. The book is a true classic, telling of Burton's journey (disguised as a Muslim) to the forbidden holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The Boston auction house was a distinguished and trustworthy firm, but provenance is sometimes murky and Josephine says the book is rightfully hers.

She believes that her grandfather, who was living in Baltimore more than eighty years ago, had a fabulous collection of Burton material, including a handwritten journal allegedly detailing Burton's undercover trip deep into the troubled American South in 1860. Josephine remembers the books from her childhood, but everything mysteriously disappeared shortly after her grandfather's death.

With little time left in her own life, Josephine begs for Janeway's promise: he must find her grandfather's collection. It's a virtually impossible task, Janeway suspects, as the books will no doubt have been sold and separated over the years, but how can he say no to a dying woman?

It seems that her grandfather, Charlie Warren, traveled south with Burton in the spring of 1860, just before the Civil War began. Was Burton a spy for Britain? What happened during the three months in Burton's travels for which there are no records? How did Charlie acquire his unique collection of Burton books? What will the journal, if it exists, reveal?

When a friend is murdered, possibly because of a Burton book, Janeway knows he must find the answers. Someone today is willing to kill to keep the secrets of the past, and Janeway's search will lead him east: To Baltimore, to a Pulitzer Prize-winning author with a very stuffed shirt, and to a pair of unorthodox booksellers.It reaches a fiery conclusion at Fort Sumter off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.

What's more, a young lawyer, Erin d'Angelo, and ex-librarian Koko Bujak, have their own reasons for wanting to find the journal. But can Janeway trust them?

Rich with the insider's information on rare and collectible books that has made John Dunning famous, and with meticulously researched detail about a mesmerizing figure who may have played an unrecognized role in our Civil War, The Bookman's Promise is riveting entertainment from an extraordinarily gifted author who is as unique and special as the books he so clearly loves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (58)

Intricate story with a historical twist
Having read all the "bookman" novels of John Dunning, and with the exception of the Bookwoman's Last Fling which I did not find one of his better books, I have enjoyed them quite a bit. In The Bookman's Promise we find Cliff Janeway becoming embroiled in a complicated search for an old book collection on famed explorer-naturalist-linguist-writer Richard Burton. The promise occurs when an elderly lady arrives claiming that a recent purchase of a Richard Burton book belongs to her. She dies but not before requesting that Janeway find the rest of the collection.

Following another death of a friend, Cliff Janeway sets out to find the collection and truth surrounding Burton's journey through the south prior to the Civil War. Meeting up with thugs, dishonest bookmen, curious historians, writers, and various personalities, Janeway discovers a trail of deceit and cover-ups intended to hide the true ownership of the Burton collection. In the process, he gets in fights, begins a romance, develops a friendship, and protects those in his charge. Along the way, we learn about Richard Burton including a clever moment where he meets Abner Doubleday.

Especially enjoyable in the story was a section detailing the journey of Richard Burton with the grandfather of the woman who asked Janeway to determine the original owner of the book collection. This added to the intrigue of the book and made for an expansive story covering several generations. In addition to an entertaining story, the book contained excellent writing, smooth prose, and appropriate dialog. The quirky people and the detective skills of Janeway make for an energetic read with a nice balance of tension and repose, compassion, intellect, and emotional complexity.

From the beginning, the story moves along rapidly with great interest in books and history. Unfortunately, it seems to bog down in the last quarter and the ending became rather predictable and a little bit of a let down. While Janeway does establish the murderer and puts a stop to the antagonist of the story, he doesn't seem to maintain interest in the very reason for his original goal. At times the people in the story do not seem real and we do not seem to learn about anyone except for Janeway himself and another writer.

Aside from the conclusion and the lack of character building depth, the story is fascinating from a historical perspective. Furthermore, anything about Richard Burton is guaranteed to keep a reader turning the pages. A nice aside to the book is the veiled warning for bookscouts to avoid becoming eccentric and greedy.

The best in the series so far!
The best in the series so far!
This is such an EXCELLENT mystery/suspense series for book-lovers & collectors. However, be forewarned: If you are not a book-lover, then the pages of book-related details (what defines a "first edition," what makes one old book valuable and another, less so) might be hard to wade through. (Maybe not:Certainly one doesn't have to actually be a jockey to enjoy Dick Francis novels either.) As a book-lover, I had no such problem. The Janeway novels, so far, are a delight.

bookselling interest hides hack writing?
I haven't read the first two Janeways but if this is how Dunning writes I can't imagine they'd be much better. His characters are two-dimensional and his prose style is laden with cliche. I was actually listening to an audiobook of it read by a man I know to be an excellent reader, and a good reader can make a book even better than it really is. Nevertheless I had to give this one up about a third of the way through. My eyes were getting sore from wincing every few lines...

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
Books by John Dunning are a real treat because they not only provide a great story, they are also informative.The Bookman's Promise is equal parts of historical novel, book collectors' guide, and who-dunnit that once again features our favorite cop turned bookman, Cliff Janeway.

In this offering Dunning presents his readers with the premise that Sir Richard Burton (no not Liz's ex) whose achievements included extensive exploration into the vast unknown, the discovery of the headwaters of the Nile, penning several books about his feats as well as translating the words of others for our pleasure (if you have you read and enjoyed "The Arabian Nights" thank Mr. Burton) also visited our American South three months before the eruption of the Civil War and was in some way instrumental in the outbreak.Not only that, Burton supposedly kept a journal recounting his "southern experience" and someone is willing to kill to possess this handwritten and outrageously valuable volume.
Janeways pursuit of the undiscovered diary takes him out of the confines of his Denver bookstore as he travels to the East Coast and on to Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina encountering a plethora of colorful characters along the way.

"Promise" is not as engrossing as Dunning's previous offerings, "Booked to Die" and "Bookman's Wake" which I read many years ago; however, it still manages to captivate the imagination and will leave more than one reader (including myself) scrambling to the library to find out more about the life of Sir Richard Burton. 3 1/2 stars

Terrific Mystery and Wonderfully Told
As I read through mysteries, I try to understand what separates the average mystery from the superb mystery.To read The Bookman's Promise by John Dunning is to again find that nearly perfect story.The pace and rhythm are absolutely in synch with the reader.The characters are likeable and have dimension.There are the little nuggets of information about book collecting and selling.I can't think of anything missing from this storyline.Like Dunning's novels before this:Booked to Die and The Bookman's Wake, Dunning again is at the top of his game.

In this book, we again have Cliff Janeway as the lead character with his wise cracking and smart-alecky demeanor.Also introduced is a new supporting character, Cliff's love of this story, Erin.He is hot on the trial of a series of books by Sir Richard Francis Burton, traveler and historian.Sir Burton has amassed many miles of travel from India to Africa and now to America.In true life, Burton goes AWOL in the American Southern States just before the Civil War.Dunning uses this information to set up the mysteries of the Burton Books.

Multiple deaths compound the situation.Newly formed alliances further deepen the mystery.Civil War time historic fiction is added for another level of complication.This book has everything.

The dialogue is witty, comfortable, and adds to the characterizations.There is plenty left in the tank for the next sequel.
... Read more