The Personal Life of David Livingstone ...: Chiefly from His Unpublished Journals and Correspondence in the Possession of His Family

Published in 1880, this biography of David Livingstone was written by William Garden Blaikie shortly after the explorer's death. Blaikie was commissioned by Livingstone’s family to curate and synthesize the vast collection of private journals, field notes, and personal letters that remained unpublished at the time of the explorer’s passing. The project was intended to provide a definitive, humanizing account of Livingstone’s missionary and geographical work, drawing directly from primary sources to paint a portrait of the man behind the public icon.

The volume is highly regarded by historians for its heavy reliance on original manuscripts, offering a more intimate perspective than the more polished travelogues published during Livingstone’s lifetime. Blaikie focused on the theological and personal motivations of his subject, aiming to frame Livingstone’s career within the broader Victorian evangelical movement. Upon its release, the work was well-received by contemporary audiences as a faithful and comprehensive record, serving as a primary touchstone for subsequent scholarship on nineteenth-century African exploration.