Burton—the explorer, not the actor—is best remembered today for his clandestine visit to the holy city of Mecca and his later translations of the Arabian Nights
and the Kama Sutra
. As Kennedy points out, however, the Victorian adventurer's full list of accomplishments reflects a wide range of cultural concerns spurred by imperial England's interactions with the rest of the world. Attempting to "demythologize" his subject, Kennedy, a historian at George Washington University, examines eight phases of Burton's public image, from "the Gypsy" to "the sexologist," with a keen eye for psychological detail. He shows how extensively Burton (1821–1890) worked to shape his own reputation by presenting himself as more of an outsider than he really was, and speculates with insight into the tension between Burton's embrace of exotic civilizations and his desire to be honored as a British hero. The book's chronological sequence has some pitfalls; for instance, a discussion of Burton's later anti-Semitic writings is separated from a long, thoughtful chapter on his pervasive racism, centered primarily on his experiences as a British consul in Africa. Overall, however, Kennedy succeeds in re-establishing Burton as a relevant figure for a 21st-century world grappling with issues of ethnic, cultural and sexual diversity. B&w illus. (Sept.)
