If you haven't seen the movie "Mountains of the Moon", go rent it.In his younger days, Burton was somewhat of a rogue. Brilliant linguist, daring explorer, a reckless daredevil with a scar on his face (from taking a spear through his cheek) to prove it.
His diary of his journeys through the American West (St' Louis, at the time) is less than complimentary towards us colonials but a fascinating read.
He was, I believe, the first "white man" to enter Mecca and come out alive. His command of Arabic was that perfect.
Burton managed to piss off everyone around him and ended up a fifth rate public servant living out his life with a Catholic wife who saw fit to burn most of what she considered his pornography after his death. There have been several biographies published within the past ten years both about him and Mary.