A Transatlantic Sensation

Abstract

This chapter explores the cultural, commercial, and racial meanings of Henry Stanley’s meeting with David Livingstone in Africa — a sensational story that appeared simultaneously in newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic in 1872. In particular, it examines how that meeting crystallised and stimulated imperial relations between Britain and the United States. The chapter first considers the reciprocal exchange between Britain and the United States as a ‘transatlantic revolution’ in journalism. It then looks at the Herald’s reporting of Livingstone’s African expedition before turning to a discussion of the significance of Stanley’s transatlantic background to understanding his correspondence from Africa. It also analyses Stanley’s correspondence within the context of the Anglo-American relations in the second half of the nineteenth century. Finally, it emphasises the role of popular print culture in shaping transatlantic figures and relations.