In the Paths of Dangerous Fame

William George Browne (1768-1813) was one of those remarkable explorers who managed to journey deep into the African interior. At the Egyptian oasis of Siwa, he discovered an ancient temple related to Alexander the Great's visit to consult the fabled Oracle of Amun. Fearlessly, he then searched for further ruins in the inner desert but very nearly perished in the process. After studying Arabic in Cairo, he embarked on an 1,100-mile camel journey along the Forty Days Road. Browne was the first European to reach the Sultanate of Darfur. Here he faced constant intrigue and an almost unbearable level of xenophobic hostility. Through sheer determination, he was able to survive disease, several assassination attempts and two crossings of the Sahara in the full heat of summer. Following years of meticulous research, Browne embarked on one final journey, but violent death was waiting for him in Persia on the way to Tartary. In the Paths of Dangerous Fame is the first full-length biography of W.G. Browne. It records the life and motivations of this intrepid and dedicated explorer. 'In the Paths of Dangerous Fame is the first full-length biography of William George Browne, one of the great, yet sadly neglected explorers of the late Georgian period. Mr Edmund Wyatt has done a great service in filling this gap with his excellent, thoroughly researched, informative, and very readable account of the life and travels of WG Browne (1768-1813).' Eamonn Gearon (The Bulletin) 'This book is a good read and an excellent introduction to conditions of life and political intrigue in northeast Africa and other parts of the Near East at the end of the 18th century.'Dr Jack Davies (Sudan Studies)