Travels in Arabia Deserta 2 Vol. Complete [New and Definitive Edition]

New York: Random House, 1937. Near Fine/No Dust Jacket, As Issued.

Two volumes, complete in slipcase. Publisher's cloth titles in gilt in blue boxes. Top edge stained blue with others deckled, some leaves unopened. 10 inches tall; 674, 696 pages with an index and glossary. Large fold-out color map at the end of volume 2; many plates and numerous in-text drawings. Introduction by T. E. Lawrence.

The bindings are tight and square. Text is clean; light, even age-toning. Moderate shelf handling wear with age-darkening on the spine. The slip case is intact heavily worn on the edges.

Genres: Travel Writing; Adventure and Exploration; (truncated) Ethnography and Anthropology; Historical Writing; Literature and Poetic Prose; Religious and Philosophical Writing; Geography and Natural History; Memoir and Autobiography.

Subjects: Arabian Peninsula; Desert Landscapes of Arabia; Bedouin Tribes and Nomadic Cultures; Islamic History; Pre-Islamic Arabia; The Hejaz Region (Mecca and Medina); Wahhabi Movement; Ottoman Empire's Influence in Arabia; Trade Routes and Caravans; Ancient Arabian Civilizations; The Role of the Desert in Arabian Culture; Cultural Practices and Traditions of Arabia; Geopolitical Dynamics of 19th-Century Arabia; Religious Pilgrimages to Mecca.
Charles M. Doughty's 'Travels in Arabia Deserta' was first published in 1888. It's considered a classic travelogue and a significant work in the exploration of Arabia. This edition was published with the intention of providing a completer and more accessible version of Doughty's work, incorporating improvements and additional material that had been developed since the original publication.

Some of the key differences are the text was Updated with Corrections that had emerged from further research, much more thoroughly edited with a scholarly approach in mind, designed to appeal to academics and readers who wanted more than just a travelogue. The new introduction by T.E. Laurance contextualizes the book and reflects its literary and historical significance. This often includes more information on the Arabian landscape and the wider context of Doughty's travels, which provides a richer understanding for modern readers.

The New and Definitive Edition contains numerous footnotes and annotations that help explain references, historical context, and places that might be unfamiliar to readers and is often regarded as the preferred version.

Doughty's journey took place between 1876 and 1878, during a period when Arabia remained largely unexplored by Western scholars. His travels were not merely geographical but intellectual, as he sought to understand the customs, beliefs, and societal structures of the nomadic Bedouins, as well as the wider Arab world. The book's scope encompasses a wide array of themes, from the harsh physical environment of the desert to the complexities of Arab culture, religion, and politics.

Doughty was not just a traveler; he was also a keen observer of human nature and the cultural landscapes he traversed. His narrative includes rich anthropological and ethnological insights, sometimes delving into philosophical musings on the nature of existence, religion, and society. [Adapted from scholarly reviews]

Ref: Hogarth; The Life of Charles M. Doughty; Howgego; Continental Exploration (Inventory #: 20187)