10 sections:

1. Outlines Mary Kingsley's relationship with West Africa.

2. Gives an account of Mary Kingsley's first journey to West Africa, the motivation of which was to collect specimens of fresh water fish for the British Museum.

3. Gives examples of Mary Kingsley's lively writing style from West African Studies and Travels in West Africa.

4. Compares Mary Kingsley's "sympathetic humour" to that of Dickens or Daudet.

5. Outlines Mary Kingsley's debate on the mental faculties of African people and her knowledge of African religious and supernatural beliefs.

6. Details the Crown Colony system in place in West African countries in the 19th Century; discusses Mary Kingsley's criticism of "stay-at-home statesmen" and "armchairism". Attempts to rationalise the various conflicts in the West African colonies.

7. Praises Mary Kingsley's books for their usefulness for historians of religion and human rights.

8. Gives Mary Kingsley's opinion on the Congo Free State.

9. Outlines the last stages of Mary Kingsley's life: her activities on returning to England in 1896; her final voyage to Africa; her death and funeral.

10. Poses the question: How much of Mary Kingsley's character was innate, and how much of it was influenced by her family and education? Discusses the possible influences from her father George Kingsley, and her education at home and at Cambridge.