David Livingstone published 5 non-fiction books, beginning with Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa (1857).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with David Livingstone
Non-fiction in order
A Popular Account of Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa (1861)
Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries (1865)
Africa (1872)
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About David Livingstone
David Livingstone was a Scottish doctor, Congregationalist, pioneer Christian missionary with the London Missionary Society, and an explorer in Africa. Livingstone was married to Mary Moffat Livingstone, from the prominent 18th-century Moffat missionary family. Livingstone came to have a mythic status as a Protestant missionary martyr, working-class "rags-to-riches" inspirational story, scientific investigator and explorer, imperial reformer, anti-slavery crusader, and advocate of British commercial and colonial expansion. As a result, he became one of the most popular British heroes of the late 19th-century Victorian era.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
David Livingstone FAQ
- How many books has David Livingstone written?
- David Livingstone published 5 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read David Livingstone's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa.
- What is David Livingstone's last book?
- The Last Journals of David Livingstone in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death (1874).
- What is David Livingstone's most famous book?
- Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa (1857) is David Livingstone's most widely read book.
- Can I read David Livingstone's books for free?
- Yes. 3 books by David Livingstone are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like David Livingstone
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.