Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah Vol I (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781480131668)

Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (19 March 1821 - 20 October 1890) was a British geographer, explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia, Africa and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian and African languages. Motivated by his love of adventure, Burton got the approval of the Royal Geographical Society for an exploration of the area and he gained permission from the Board of Directors of the British East India Company to take leave from the army. His seven years in India gave Burton a familiarity with the customs and behavior of Muslims and prepared him to attempt a Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca and, in this case, Medina). It was this journey, undertaken in 1853, which first made Burton famous.

Author: Alex Struik, Richard F. Burton
ISBN-10: 1480131660
ISBN-13: 9781480131668
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Language: English
Published: 10/16/2012
Pages: 486
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.42lbs
Size: 9.02h x 5.98w x 0.98d