Description
Book SynopsisThe earliest surviving instance of sustained first-person travel narrative in Arabic
Mission to the Volga is a pioneering text of peerless historical and literary value. In its pages, we move north on a diplomatic mission from Baghdad to the upper reaches of the Volga River in what is now central Russia.
In this colorful documentary from the tenth century, the enigmatic Ibn Fadlan relates his experiences as part of an embassy sent by Caliph al-Muqtadir to deliver political and religious instruction to the recently-converted King of the Bulghars. During eleven months of grueling travel, Ibn Fadlan records the marvels he witnesses on his journey, including an aurora borealis and the white nights of the North. Crucially, he offers a description of the Viking Rus, including their customs, clothing, body painting, and a striking account of a ship funeral. Together, these anecdotes illuminate a vibrant world of diversity during the heyday of the Abbasid Empire, na
Trade Review
Montgomery's edition...is itself the product of many years' research, travel, and discussion and should become definitive. * Speculum *
A compelling account which is, among other things, the earliest first-hand description of travel from the Muslim world. * Times Literary Supplement *
