The Life of David Livingstone: Chiefly from His Unpublished Journals and Correspondence in the Possession of His Family

Published in 1880, this biography was authored by William Garden Blaikie shortly after the death of the famous Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone. Commissioned by Livingstone's family, Blaikie was granted unique access to the explorer's private journals, letters, and field notes that had not yet been made public. The volume was intended to provide a definitive, authorized account of Livingstone's expeditions across Africa, focusing on his humanitarian work and the abolitionist sentiments that defined his later career.

Blaikie approached the narrative with a scholarly and reverent tone, aiming to cement Livingstone's legacy as a hero of Victorian exploration and Christian mission. The text emphasizes Livingstone's resilience and moral conviction, serving as a primary source for the biographical consensus of the late 19th century. Upon its release, the work was widely received as an essential companion to Livingstone's own published travels, praised for its meticulous compilation of personal correspondence that offered a more intimate look at his isolated final years.