The Personal Life of David Livingstone: Chiefly From His Unpublished Journals and Correspondence in the Possession of His Family

Published in 1880, this biography was written by William Garden Blaikie shortly after the death of the famous explorer David Livingstone. Blaikie was commissioned by Livingstone’s family to compile a narrative that drew heavily upon private, previously unpublished journals and personal correspondence. The work was intended to provide a more intimate and domestic portrait of the missionary, contrasting with the purely heroic or geographical accounts that had dominated the public imagination following Livingstone's death in Africa in 1873.

The book is notable for its focus on Livingstone’s character, religious conviction, and family life rather than solely his travel exploits. It was received as a standard authoritative biography of the era, helping to solidify Livingstone’s legacy as a Victorian icon of moral perseverance. The design reflects the typical late-19th-century academic publishing style, emphasizing a formal, biographical approach that sought to preserve the private legacy of a public figure for posterity.