Turkey, Egypt, and Syria: A Travelogue

Turkey, Egypt, and Syria: A Travelogue by Shibli Nu'mani is a 1894 travelogue that provides a unique portrait of imperial culture in the Ottoman Empire and Egypt. It includes sketches, anecdotes, and insights into intellectual networks, religious festivals, and everyday life. The travelogue has become a classic of Urdu travel writing and has had a significant impact on South Asian intellectual and political history. This English translation includes contemporary reviews, letters, and newspaper reports, with extensive glosses and annotations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2020
Publisher: Syracuse University Press

Turkey, Egypt, and Syria: A Travelogue, penned by the esteemed Indian intellectual and scholar Shibli Nu'mani (1857–1914), vividly captures his remarkable experiences during a journey across the Ottoman Empire and Egypt in 1892. Hailing from Aligarh, Nu'mani served as a professor of Arabic and Persian at the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College, where he embarked on a six-month leave of absence to pursue his quest for rare printed works and manuscripts. These treasures would serve as valuable sources for his upcoming series of biographies on prominent figures in Islamic history.

Along his journey, Nu'mani meticulously gathered information on various aspects of imperial culture, including schools, curricula, publishers, and newspapers. His travelogue presents a unique and captivating portrait of the Ottoman Empire and Egypt at a pivotal moment in their respective histories. Nu'mani's sketches and anecdotes offer rare glimpses into intellectual networks, religious festivals, visual and literary culture, and the everyday lives of the people he encountered.

First published in 1894, Turkey, Egypt, and Syria: A Travelogue has since established itself as a classic of Urdu travel writing and has had a profound impact on the intellectual and political history of South Asia. This English translation, the first of its kind, includes not only contemporary reviews of the travelogue but also letters written by Nu'mani during his travels and serialized newspaper reports about the journey. The translator's extensive multilingual glosses and annotations further enrich the reader's experience by providing valuable insights and context.

Nu'mani's chronicle offers a unique perspective on broader processes of historical change in this region while also providing a rare glimpse into the intellectual engagement and exchange that occurred across the expansive borders of the empire. His observations and insights shed light on the complex interplay of cultures, religions, and ideologies that shaped the Middle East during the late 19th century. Through his travelogue, Nu'mani invites readers to explore the rich tapestry of history and culture that unfolded in this part of the world.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815636540