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The Richard Burton Library

The Richard Burton Library

By: Sir Richard Francis Burton
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Enter The Richard Burton Library, wherein the curious listener may accompany that restless company of pilgrims, wanderers, merchants, poets, princes, and philosophers who people the books of Sir Richard Francis Burton. Here are his works read in full: voyages into Arabia, Africa, India, and the chambers of ancient story; observations of men and manners; translations from tongues remote and richly storied; and those strange byways of learning which Burton pursued with equal parts courage, appetite, and disdain for convention. For the lover of travel, letters, and the wider world, the road begins here.Public domain Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter XXI - The People of Al-madinah, part 1

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter XXI - The People of Al-madinah, part 1
    Jun 28 2026
    In which the learned traveller unfolds a detailed portrait of Al-Madinah’s diverse population, from venerable prophetic families to itinerant settlers, revealing their customs, social stratifications, dress, and peculiarities with a discerning eye. He then recounts the outbreak of tribal strife that thwarts his planned journey and leads to a solemn pilgrimage to the revered Saints’ Cemetery, where reflection on faith and mortality commences.
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    35 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter XX - The Visitation of Hamzah's Tomb, part 2

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter XX - The Visitation of Hamzah's Tomb, part 2
    Jun 28 2026
    In which the evening illumination of the Harim presents a vivid tableau of diverse pilgrims engaged in devout ceremonies and poignant expressions of faith, notably the emotional Persian contingent whose sorrow and ire reveal deep sectarian tensions. The narrative gently observes the varied demeanours and interactions within the sacred precinct, capturing a moment rich in religious fervour and cultural complexity.
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    23 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter XIX - The Mosque of Kuba

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter XIX - The Mosque of Kuba
    Jun 27 2026
    In which the humble act of inscribing a simple dedication within the white-walled Kubbat al-Sanaya serves as a quiet homage to faith, while the path leads to solemn blessings upon the Martyrs of Ohod, those noble souls honoured in sacred remembrance. The air is filled with reverent salutations, echoing the Koranic assurance of life beyond mortal sacrifice upon the venerable battlefield.
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    46 mins
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