Physician and the Slave Trade

This is an excellent story of an unsung hero of East Africa and the struggle against slavery. The author has repeatedly travelled to Africa, is a physician, and has written an earlier book about West Africa. The book is well researched and is a very good read.

This is a very readable depiction of East Africa, the slave trade and Dr. John Kirk, an almost unknown English hero of last century. He was instrumental in bringing an end to the vicious slave trade in East Africa and his life was interwoven with the famous Stanley and Livingstone pair. Dr. Kirk emerges as a better man than either of those two, by far. A bit choppy at times, but a first class and richly researched history that came alive for me. If you like history, social issues, Africa or just good adventure this this is a very satisfying read.

The physician and the slave trade takes you to East Africa where John Kirk, A Scottish physician joins David Livingstone on the Zambezi expedition. From 1858 to 1863, they steamed up rivers and roamed the jungles enduring blistering heat, rampant tropical diseases snakes and hostile Africans, Arabs, and rival Europeans. Through it all Kirk and Livingstone persevered, promoting commerce, christianity and civilization while working against a powerful slave trade that saw more than 100,000 slaves shipped abroad each year. Maneuvering his way against the endless intrigue of Arab slavers and European geopolitics, Kirk succeeded against incredible odds in convincing the Sultan of Zanzibar to ban the highly lucrative slave trade. This is a gripping true story of intrigue and adventure in East Africa and the end of the slave trade.