A Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Medinah and Meccah, written in 1855, is British author and explorer Richard Burton's account of his own attempt at a Hajj, or Muslim journey to Mecca. Though not Muslim himself, Burton's years spent in British India as a soldier in the army familiarized him with Muslim customs and behavior. He came up with the idea of making a Hajj while traveling disguised among Sindhi Muslims, and prepared and studied extensively for the trip, even getting circumcised to further prevent discovery. While Burton was not the first non-Muslim to make the journey to Mecca, his account is the most well-known of the time, and it is the work which made him famous. Presented here as two volumes in one, this harrowing true tale will delight fans of Burton and his work. British author, soldier, and adventurer CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (1821-1890)was notoriously remembered for his scandalously unexpurgated translations of The Arabian Nights and the Kama Sutra, which scandalized and titillated Victorian readers. Other works of his include the translation of classic Hindu stories of magic and romance, Vikram and the Vampire or Tales of Hindu Devilry, journals of his globetrotting exploits through Africa and the Middle East, such as The Lake Regions of Central Africa, and his history on the sword, The Book of the Sword, written out of his love for fencing and weaponry.
