Goa and the Blue Mountains, or, Six Months of Sick Leave

by Sir Richard Francis Burton

Overview

Goa and the Blue Mountains, or, Six Months of Sick Leave is a travelogue written by Sir Richard Francis Burton, a British explorer and writer. The book details Burton's journey through the Portuguese colony of Goa and the surrounding Blue Mountains in India. Burton writes about his experiences and observations of the local people, culture, and landscape. The book also includes descriptions of various historical and cultural sites, as well as Burton's reflections on the state of British imperialism in India. Overall, the book is a blend of travel writing and cultural commentary, offering a glimpse into 19th-century colonial India.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783988260581
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	02/09/2023
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	250
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) was a British explorer, geographer, translator, writer, soldier, and diplomat whose life reads like an adventure novel. Renowned for his extraordinary linguistic prowess, Burton spoke 29 languages and numerous dialects, a skill that allowed him to penetrate cultures often closed to Westerners. His most famous journey was his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1853, a perilous endeavor for a non-Muslim that he accomplished by disguising himself as a Muslim pilgrim, a feat that would intrigue any modern reader fascinated by tales of daring and disguise.Burton's translations of classic works, such as the "Kama Sutra" and "The Arabian Nights," brought these texts to the English-speaking world, albeit not without controversy. His unexpurgated versions challenged Victorian norms and provoked debates on sexuality and morality, making him a revolutionary figure in the fight against censorship.A man of contradictions, Burton was both a product of his time and a critic of its colonial attitudes. His ethnographic works often displayed a deep respect for the cultures he studied, even as he operated within the imperialist framework of 19th-century Britain. This duality makes him a compelling figure for contemporary readers interested in the complexities of cultural exchange and the legacies of colonialism.Burton's influence extends to contemporary writers and adventurers who admire his relentless curiosity and fearless spirit. His life and works continue to inspire those who seek to understand the world in all its diversity and complexity.
Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a British explorer, writer, orientalist scholar,and soldier. He was famed for his travels and explorations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke twenty-nine languages. Burton's best-known achievements include: a well-documented journey to Mecca in disguise, at a time when non-Muslims were forbidden access on pain of death; an unexpurgated translation of One Thousand and One Nights (commonly called The Arabian Nights in English after early translations of Antoine Galland's French version); the publication of the Kama Sutra in English; a translation of The Perfumed Garden, the "Arab Kama Sutra"; and a journey with John Hanning Speke as the first Europeans to visit the Great Lakes of Africa in search of the source of the Nile.