The Call of the Wild

Feats of exploration – humans pitted against forces of nature – exert a perennial fascination. Tim Jeal’s Explorers of the Nile recounts the quest of Livingstone, Stanley, Burton, Baker and Speke to solve the great geographical mystery: the source of the biblical river.  ‘There have been many books on this subject but this is the best’ (Sunday Times). Christopher Ondaatje’s The Last Colonial is an exhilarating collection of personal travellers’ tales, ranging from his homeland, Sri Lanka, to perilous journeys in Africa. He proves that the spirit of adventure is still alive. Chaired by Sigrid Rausing, anthropologist, publisher and philanthropist.