Middle East Travel Writing, History & Archeology
John Keane, an Englishman born in 1854, embarked on a remarkable journey in his twenties, venturing extensively through the Hejaz region of Arabia. His written account, “My Journey to Medinah,” provides a unique glimpse into his travels, focusing on a camel caravan pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina. However, within this larger narrative of Arabian exploration, … Read more
Few works capture the essence and mystique of the Arabian Peninsula as vividly as Lady Anne Blunt’s account, “A Pilgrimage To Nejd.” Her narrative, set in the mid-19th century, chronicles a daring expedition into the heart of Arabia, a region then little known to the Western world. Key Takeaways: Lady Anne Blunt’s journey included the … Read more
In the early 20th century, Harry St. John Philby embarked on a series of explorations across the Arabian Peninsula, documenting his findings in the seminal work, “Heart Of Arabia.” Through his extensive travels in Arabia, Philby provided a detailed account of the customs, economic practices, and daily life in regions such as Hasa, Wadi Dawasir … Read more
In the early 20th century, the Bedouin Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula had crafted a society deeply rooted in traditions and customs, particularly evident in their practices surrounding marriage and divorce. These customs, as chronicled by H.R.P. Dickson in his book, “The Arab Of The Desert”, offer a window into a world where social structures … Read more
John Keane, an Englishman who lived from 1854 to 1937, embarked on a remarkable adventure in his twenties. His extensive travels through the Hejaz region of present-day Saudi Arabia provided a unique perspective on this historically and culturally significant area. Keane documented his experiences in two books, and in this essay, we will delve into … Read more
Amidst the chronicles of Arabian exploration, few accounts are as vivid and insightful as Lady Anne Blunt’s “A Pilgrimage to Nejd.” This travelogue, penned in the mid-19th century, offers a unique glimpse into the heart of Arabia, a region then largely unknown to the Western world. Lady Anne Blunt, with her keen observations and descriptive … Read more