William Cotton Oswell, Hunter and Explorer
The Story of his Life with Certain Correspondence and Extracts from the Private Journal of David Livingstone, Hitherto Unpublished

Published in 1900, volume 2 of Oswell's (1818–93) biography includes his journey to the Crimean front in 1854–5.

William Edward Oswell (Author)

9781108032124, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 June 2011

310 pages, 15 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 1.8 cm, 0.39 kg

The life of English explorer William Cotton Oswell (1818–93) was marked by adventures and discoveries. At nineteen, he left Essex for Madras, where he worked for the East India Company and became a renowned elephant catcher. Due to poor health, he was sent to South Africa, the 'empire of wild sport', where he specialised in hunting and exploration. He discovered the River Zouga and Lake Ngami during an expedition across the Kalahari desert, and travelled to the Zambezi River with Scottish missionary David Livingstone. Originally published in 1900, this two-volume biography was written by Oswell's eldest son. Since Oswell kept no diary, his life is here reconstructed through the many letters he sent to his family and friends. Volume 2 opens with Oswell's return to England in 1852, and includes an account of his journey to the Crimean front, where he worked in hospitals between 1854 and 1855.

10. England. 1852–3
11. Retrospect of his African career, and the opinion of him held by contemporary travellers
12. Paris, Constantinople, Crimea. 1853–5
13. North and South America and West Indies. 1855–6
14. England. 1856–60
15. 1860–5
16. 1865–9
17. 1869–73
18. 1873–8
19. 1878–85
20. 1885–90
21. 1890–2
22. 1892–3
23. His friends' farewell
24. Characteristic extracts from the correspondence and personal reminiscences of William Cotton Oswell
Index.

Subject Areas: African history [HBJH]