author
Sir Francis Bond Head
1793–1875
A restless 19th-century traveler, soldier, and colonial governor, he turned firsthand experience into lively books about Africa, Europe, railways, and public life. His writing often blends adventure, observation, and strong opinions, making him an unusually vivid Victorian voice.
4 Audiobooks
Bubbles from the Brunnens of Nassau By an Old Man.
by Sir Francis Bond Head
The Life and Adventures of Bruce, the African Traveller
by Sir Francis Bond Head
The Horse and His Rider
by Sir Francis Bond Head
About the author
Born in Kent in 1793, Sir Francis Bond Head served as an officer in the Royal Engineers before becoming known both as a colonial administrator and as a writer. He traveled widely, including in South America, and built a reputation for energetic, firsthand accounts of the places and systems he encountered.
As an author, he wrote travel books, memoirs, and works of commentary, including Bubbles from the Brunnen of Nassau, The Life of Bruce, the African Traveller, and Stokers and Pokers. His books are often remembered for their brisk, personal style and for the way they mix anecdote with reflections on politics, technology, and society.
Head is also a notable historical figure for his time as lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada during the rebellion of 1837. He died in 1875, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the curiosity, confidence, and controversies of the Victorian world.