Charles Huber: France's Greatest Arabian Explorer

Charles Huber was a French-Alsatian geographer who made significant contributions to the scientific mapping of inland Arabia and recorded ancient North Arabian inscriptions and rock art. He was murdered in 1884, and his only connected narrative was of his first journey in 1880–81. This document has not been published since 1885 and is presented here for the first time in English translation. Huber's first Arabian journey was an epic quest of 5,000 kilometers on camelback, using Hail as a base before traveling to Iraq and Syria. He returned to Arabia in 1883 with Julius Euting, but their collaboration was unsuccessful. Huber was murdered shortly after by his guides on the Red Sea coast. The Tayma Stele, a celebrated Aramaic inscription now in the Musée du Louvre, was discovered by Euting in 1884, not 1880, as previously believed.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 12 May 2022
Publisher: Medina Publishing Ltd

Charles Huber, a renowned French-Alsatian geographer, gained fame as one of the remarkable Arabian explorers of the 19th century. During his two heroic journeys between 1880 and 1884, he pioneered the scientific mapping of inland Arabia, making significant contributions to the study of ancient North Arabian inscriptions and rock art. Tragically, his life was cut short when he was murdered in 1884, limiting his published works to a single narrative of his first journey. This significant document of Arabian exploration, which has not been published since 1885, is now presented in English translation for the first time. Despite Huber's posthumous reputation, there has been limited written material about him. William Faceys' biographical introduction fills this gap, shedding light on Hubers complex and daring personality, as well as his colorful life as a passionate French patriot growing up in Strasbourg during the Franco-German conflict.

New insights are provided into the dates and itinerary of Hubers first Arabian journey, an epic camelback expedition spanning approximately 5,000 kilometers. He used Hail as a base before embarking on a pilgrimage caravan to Iraq and Syria. The focus then shifts to his return to Arabia in 1883 alongside Julius Euting, a renowned German Semitist. Their collaboration encountered challenges, leading to Huber's separation from Euting at the significant Nabataean site of Madain Salih in the northern Hijaz. Huber embarked on a perilous journey back to central Arabia before making a dangerous expedition to Jiddah. Unfortunately, he was assassinated shortly after, on July 29, 1884, by his guides on the Red Sea coast.

The Tayma Stele, a celebrated Aramaic inscription now housed in the Musée du Louvre, also comes under scrutiny in this account. Huber's contributions to Arabian exploration and his tragic demise have left a lasting impact on the field, making him a noteworthy figure in the history of exploration.

Weight: 1046g
Dimension: 469 x 264 x 55 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911487678