author
Ely Banister Soane
1881–1923
Best known for vivid books on Kurdistan and Mesopotamia, this British writer combined first-hand travel, language study, and political experience into work that still draws interest today. His most famous book, To Mesopotamia and Kurdistan in Disguise, reflects the adventurous, often risky journeys behind his writing.
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About the author
Born in 1881, Ely Bannister Soane was a British writer, linguist, and political officer whose life was closely tied to Kurdistan and Mesopotamia. He is chiefly remembered for writing about the region from direct experience, rather than from a distance, and for developing a strong knowledge of Kurdish language and society.
His best-known work is To Mesopotamia and Kurdistan in Disguise, a travel narrative first published in the early 20th century. Beyond writing, he also served in official British roles in the region, including work in Sulaymaniyah, and his career linked scholarship, administration, and intelligence work in unusual ways.
Soane died in 1923, reportedly at sea while returning toward London. Although not a widely known name today, he remains a notable figure for readers interested in travel writing, Middle Eastern history, and early English-language studies of the Kurds.