
Step into the world of one of the Victorian era’s most daring explorers through a lively collection of his own words. The volume gathers a series of essays that once captivated audiences in lecture halls, now presented in a clear, readable form. From the solemn streets of Mecca and Medina to the remote gates of Harar in Somaliland, Burton’s keen eye records the sights, sounds, and customs he encountered.
The journey continues across continents, taking listeners from the bustling markets of Central Africa and the mystery of Lake Tanganyika to the surprising encounter with the early Mormon community in Utah, and even a vivid account of Brazil’s imperial court. Interwoven with personal reflections, the narratives reveal the explorer’s relentless curiosity and his habit of noting even the smallest details. Listeners will feel the thrill of travel in an age when each new horizon was a true frontier.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (429K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Carol Brown, Emmanuel Ackerman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2021-12-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1821–1890
Restless, brilliant, and often controversial, this Victorian adventurer turned a life of extreme travel into books that still feel bold and unpredictable. He is best known for exploring widely across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and for bringing major translated works such as the Arabian Nights to English-language readers.
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