“River of the Gods” is a nonfiction book by Candice Millard that focuses on the European frenzy surrounding the Orientalism of the 19th century and the culture of Egypt in particular. The prologue of the book itself is titled Obsession, and it describes the conflict between France and Britain, not only on the battleground, but also regarding the cultural findings and their appropriation of them. It also mentions the obsession with the mystery shrouding the River Nile, which was a subject of interest since ancient times.
The source of the river is something every European explorer and scholar dreams of discovering, but its vastness and difficulties of exploring the area without knowing the local customs makes this discovery nearly impossible. This is where Richard Francis Burton comes into play. A scholar and a linguistic savant, he is the man capable (or insane) enough for this undertaking.
John Hanning Speke is the second important persona in the book. He is a contrast to Burton – lives for the exploration and physical challenges, and has little interest in learning about the cultures he explores. The two become each other's enemies, after Burton takes credit for Speke’s discoveries.
The third important persona in the book is Sidi Mubarak Mumbay – a man invisible in the records of explorations by English scholars, he is the main person responsible for the successes of explorations.
Published in 2022, the book quickly became a New York Times bestseller and was positively acclaimed with praise for the author’s well-researched and insightful writing.
