River of the Gods: Richard Burton & the Quest for the Source of the Nile

This episode introduces Candice Millard’s book River of the Gods, which chronicles the mid-nineteenth-century British quest to locate the source of the Nile. The prologue establishes the historical context of European obsession with Egypt, sparked by the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and the subsequent rise of the Royal Geographical Society. Central to the narrative is Richard Francis Burton, a polyglot soldier and explorer known for his audacity and cultural immersion. Early chapters detail Burton’s dangerous 1854 journey to Mecca in disguise, highlighting his complex personality and the high stakes of imperial exploration.