Arabia, Egypt, India

A distinguished and accomplished writer, Lady Isabel Burton (1831–96) published in 1879 a colourful, humorous and intimate observational account of her and her husband's voyage through the Middle East and west of India. Her personal political opinions and colourful cultural descriptions afford unique insight into nineteenth-century world affairs.

---

Lady Isabel Burton (1831–96) was a distinguished nineteenth-century traveller, writer and critic. She and her husband Richard explored the Middle East, India, Africa and South America extensively during his diplomatic placements and for their own pleasure. Individually and collaboratively they produced several exquisitely detailed travelogues, recording custom, culture, politics and geography. This account of their travels, first published in 1879, details the Burtons' leisurely route to India through Europe before crossing the Mediterranean and continuing south through Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. This skilful and humorous narrative brings the places and people to life through personal anecdotes, observations and colourful description. Burton's political and historical comments on the lands she travels through are reasoned, well-researched and afford valuable insight into public opinion and world affairs at this time.