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Desert traveller : the life of Jean Louis Burckhardt / Katharine Sim.
LIBRA - Special DS61.7.B8 S5 2000
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- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Sim, Katharine.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Burckhardt, John Lewis, 1784-1817.
- Burckhardt, John Lewis.
- Explorers--Middle East--Biography.
- Explorers.
- Explorers--Switzerland--Biography.
- Middle East--Description and travel.
- Middle East.
- Burckhardt, Johann Ludwig, 1784-1817.
- Travel.
- Switzerland.
- Local Subjects:
- Burckhardt, Johann Ludwig, 1784-1817.
- Genre:
- Biographies.
- Penn Provenance:
- Gotham Book Mart (former owner) (Gotham Book Mart Collection copy)
- Physical Description:
- 447 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
- Edition:
- Paperback edition.
- Place of Publication:
- London : Phoenix Press, 2000.
- Summary:
- "The first biography of one of the world's greatest explorers, Jean Louis Buckhardt - the first European to enter Petra and the discoverer of the colossal figures at Abu Simbel. He penetrated as far as Mecca where he lived for many months as an Arab but died in 1817, while in his early thirties, worn out by his prodigious feats." "Sir Joseph Banks, sponsor of the African Association, convinced Burckhardt to try to get to Timbuktu and the upper reaches of the Niger travelling west with pilgrim caravans from Mecca. This would only be possible for an explorer who could pass as an Arab. Burckhardt's imagination was kindled by this fantastically difficult and dangerous assignment and he set out from Britain in the spring of 1809 - never to return." "For two and a half years he made Aleppo his home and base while he accustomed himself to Arab dress and customs and mastered the language, often exploring regions as yet unpenetrated by Europeans. As 'Sheik Abraham' he set forth on his first great journey, south through Syria and Palestine and on to Egypt. His reward was the discovery of Petra. His next journey up the Nile into Nubia, going deep into unexplored territory and defying hostile local chiefs, brought him to Abu Simbel. He then embarked on his riskiest journey yet, the trip to Mecca."--Jacket.
- Notes:
- Previous edition: London: Gollancz, 1969.
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 419-423) and index.
- ISBN:
- 1842120867
- 9781842120866
- OCLC:
- 44736623
- Online:
- Publisher description
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