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The Richard Burton Library

The Richard Burton Library

By: Sir Richard Francis Burton
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Enter The Richard Burton Library, wherein the curious listener may accompany that restless company of pilgrims, wanderers, merchants, poets, princes, and philosophers who people the books of Sir Richard Francis Burton. Here are his works read in full: voyages into Arabia, Africa, India, and the chambers of ancient story; observations of men and manners; translations from tongues remote and richly storied; and those strange byways of learning which Burton pursued with equal parts courage, appetite, and disdain for convention. For the lover of travel, letters, and the wider world, the road begins here.Public domain Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter VI - The Mosque

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter VI - The Mosque
    Jun 19 2026
    In which the author prepares carefully for his desert pilgrimage, navigating the intricate social and bureaucratic customs of Cairo with a judicious mix of patience and cunning, and makes acquaintance with an Albanian officer whose tempestuous character leads to a memorable but reputation-testing episode. Thereafter, mounted upon dromedaries and attended by Bedouin guides, he embarks upon the arduous journey to Suez, where the austere and stirring desert landscape awakens reflections on the tribes, the rawness of nature, and the noble resilience of the wandering Arab.
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    59 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter V - The Ramazan

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter V - The Ramazan
    Jun 19 2026
    In which the author offers a reflective and detailed examination of the traditional Islamic educational system in Egypt, highlighting the arduous studies and limited prospects of theological students alongside the prevalent social and political attitudes of the Cairene populace. He further depicts the vibrant and sometimes turbulent scenes surrounding the Id festival, interspersed with personal encounters and observations on local customs, law enforcement, and the complex interplay of European influence within the city.
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    25 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter IV - Life in the Wakalah, part 2

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter IV - Life in the Wakalah, part 2
    Jun 18 2026
    In which the author provides a lively and richly detailed portrayal of the bustling nocturnal life and diverse voices that animate the Moslem quarter of Cairo, from the clamour of street vendors and beggars to the solemnity of the call to prayer and the quietude beyond the city walls. This is followed by a learned and reflective discourse on the architecture and spiritual symbolism of the Mosques, particularly those of Cairo, revealing both their historical origins and artistic evolutions through the ages.
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    36 mins
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