Reprint of the original, first published in 1878.

A fascinating chronicle of Burton's 1877 expedition to locate gold and other valuable metals in the Arabian peninsula.

In 'The Life of Sir Richard Burton' by Thomas Wright, readers are invited into the fascinating world of one of the most complex and intriguing figures of the 19th century. Wright presents a detailed account of Burton's life, focusing on his pioneering travels, controversial beliefs, and literary achievements. The book's narrative style is engaging and informative, offering a mix of biography, travelogue, and cultural analysis that sheds light on Burton's contributions to exploration and ethnography. Wright's meticulous research and insightful commentary make this biography an essential read for anyone interested in Victorian literature and the history of travel writing. Thomas Wright, a respected biographer and historian, brings a nuanced understanding of Burton's life and legacy to this work. His expertise in the Victorian era and literary figures such as Burton shines through in the rich and detailed account he provides. I highly recommend 'The Life of Sir Richard Burton' to readers who enjoy biographies, travel literature, and 19th-century history. Wright's masterful storytelling and thorough exploration of Burton's life make this book a valuable addition to any library.

'An energy, a pulse form of quantum physics perhaps, alive at the margins of sleep or madness, and more often in the whispering of a single unwelcome thought.' The Economist According to Islamic tradition, Allah created three types of beings: angels, made of light; humans, made of earth; and jinn, made of smokeless fire. Supernatural, shape-shifting, intelligent and blessed with free will and remarkable powers, jinn have over the ages been given many names - demon, spirit, ghoul, genie, ifrit and shaitan. Neither human nor immortal, they roam the earth inhabiting dark and empty places, luring humans to their deaths or demonically possessing them if harmed or offended. Despite the fact they cannot be seen, jinn are said to be strangely human-like - marrying, bearing children, forming communities and tribes, eating, sleeping, playing and facing judgement like any other human. They are ever-present partners in the human experience, causing endless mischief, providing amazing services and sometimes inducing sheer terror. Believed in by hundreds of millions of people throughout the world and from all faiths, jinn have played a particularly central role in the literature, culture and belief systems of the Middle East and the Islamic world. Legends of the Fire Spirits explores through time and across nations the enduring phenomenon of the jinn. From North Africa to Central Asia, from the Mediterranean to sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, this riveting, often chilling, yet reasoned book draws on long-forgotten ancient testimonies, medieval histories, colonial records, anthropologist's reports and traveller's tales to explore the different types of jinn, their behaviour, society, culture and long history of contact with humankind. It documents their links with famous figures in history such as King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and illustrates the varied and vivid portrayals of jinn in world literature. In essence Legends of the Fire Spirits demonstrates the colourful diversity of human culture and the durability of faith and is a magnificent and indispensable portrayal of the rich folklore of the Islamic world.