Edward Lane was one of the leading historians of the Arab world in the Victorian era, publishing lexicons of Arabic, a translation of the Thousand and One Nights, and studies of Egyptian social customs. Description of Egypt would have been his first book had it been published. Lane's interest moved from ancient to modern Egypt and following the offer of funding from a mysterious benefactor he embarked for Alexandria in 1825, moving straight on to Cairo where he immediately adopted Egyptian dress and within a year spoke fluent Arabic. Immersing himself in the life of Cairo he worshipped at the mosque and lived as an Egyptian, at the same time amassing a huge library of books and manuscripts. Lane made two extended voyages up the Nile as far as Nubia and the Second Cataract. In spite of his prodigious learning he made a number of archaeological misjudgements, particularly in interpreting Akhenaten and Hatshepsut, but his descriptions of the condition of the monuments provide valuable evidence for historians and conservationists. His accounts of towns, markets and the urban and rural landscape are accompanied by detailed drawings which prioritise accuracy. On his return to the UK, Lane's massive book went through three major drafts. With the final draft including a comprehensive history of Muhammad Ali, which he took largely from secondary sources including the Cairo-based Islamic scholar al-Jabarti, Lane submitted his manuscript to John Murray in 1831. Murray was preoccupied with the Reform Bill, and successive revisions and Egyptian visits failed to produce a viable manuscript. The editor of this version has made it available following 170 years of oblivion. 15.2 x 22.6cm, 588pp, paperback, photos.
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