author
Freiherr von Joseph Hammer-Purgstall
1774–1856
An Austrian diplomat and pioneering orientalist, he helped open Persian, Arabic, and Turkish literature to European readers. Best known for his vast histories and translations, he became one of the key early scholars of the Ottoman world.
2 Audiobooks
Geschichte der Ilchane, das ist der Mongolen in Persien
by Freiherr von Joseph Hammer-Purgstall
The History of the Assassins, Derived from Oriental Sources
by Freiherr von Joseph Hammer-Purgstall
About the author
Born in Graz on June 9, 1774, and later active in Vienna, he built a career that joined public service with scholarship. He served as an Austrian diplomat and interpreter, gaining firsthand experience of the Ottoman Empire while developing a deep knowledge of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish.
He is remembered as one of the most accomplished orientalists of his era and as an important early figure in the scholarly study of the Ottoman Empire. His many books and translations introduced European readers to a wide range of Islamic and Middle Eastern literature, history, and culture.
Hammer-Purgstall's work was ambitious in scale, and his historical writing remained influential long after his death in 1856. For readers today, he stands out as a bridge between diplomatic life and literary scholarship, with a lifelong commitment to making unfamiliar worlds more readable to Europe.