According to Wikipedia: "Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (19 March 1821 20 October 1890) was a British explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia, Africa and the Americas as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages. Burton's best-known achievements include trave...

The stories of the men and women who dug for gold on Williams Creek are told in this revised and updated edition of a Canadian bestseller.The legendary town of Barkerville is flourishing today, just as it did more than 150 years ago, but this time under the care of professional and amateur historians. Richard Thomas Wright peels back the pages of history as he unearths the area’s history and chronicles the fortunes and the follies of gold-rush-era Barkerville. The result of years o...

He stood six feet four inches tall, spoke seven languages, rode solo across frozen Russian steppes, and died with a lance through his chest at the Battle of Abu Klea. Colonel Fred Burnaby was not a man who did things quietly. A decorated officer of the Royal Horse Guards, a celebrated balloonist, a war correspondent, a political firebrand, and one of the most physically imposing figures of the Victorian age, Burnaby lived with the throttle wide open from the moment he drew breath to the mo...

"Plague" by Thomas Wright Jackson is a gripping exploration of the human condition in the face of a devastating epidemic. The narrative delves into the lives of individuals and communities as they grapple with fear, loss, and resilience. Jackson's vivid storytelling brings to life the struggles of his characters, who must navigate the chaos and uncertainty brought on by the plague. The book serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the strength of the human spirit in times...

"A History of Caricature and Grotesque in Literature and Art" by Thomas Wright explores the evolution of caricature and grotesque art forms throughout history. The book delves into how these artistic expressions have been used to comment on society, politics, and human nature. Wright examines various artists and their works, highlighting the interplay between humor and critique. Through detailed analysis, he illustrates how caricature serves as a mirror reflecting societal norms and absurd...

The Worship of the Generative Powers by Thomas Wright

The book begins with an overview of the ancient and medieval context of Palestine, emphasizing its importance as a center of religious pilgrimage for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Wright examines the motivations behind these early travels, often rooted in the desire to visit sacred sites, such as Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and to engage with the biblical landscape. He highlights the challenges these travelers faced, including difficult terrains, political instability, and the socio-cultural...

Wright chronicles Burton's many expeditions, including his famous journey to Mecca disguised as a Muslim pilgrim, which broke cultural and religious barriers of the time. The biography highlights Burton's fascination with diverse cultures, his proficiency in languages, and his contributions to the study of geography and anthropology. Wright also explores Burton's complex personality, marked by a mix of brilliance and controversy, as he often challenged social norms and held unorthodox view...

Fifteen years have elapsed since the death of Sir Richard Burton and twelve since the appearance of the biography of Lady Burton. A deeply pathetic interest attaches itself to that book. Lady Burton was stricken down with an incurable disease. Death with its icy breath hung over her as her pen flew along the paper, and the questions constantly on her lips were "Shall I live to complete my task? Shall I live to tell the world how great and noble a man my husband was, and to refute the calum...

If we leave Shrewsbury by its long eastern suburb, known, from the important monastic house which formerly stood at its commencement, as the Abbey Foregate, passing the more modern monument erected at its extremity, Lord Hill’s Column, our way lies for about two miles along the London road, bounded on each side by rich and fertile fields. At the distance just mentioned, this road approaches close to the river Severn, and continues to run along its banks, to the great improvement of the sce...

THE Author of the following Letters having been flattered into a Belief, that they may probably prove of some Use, or at least Amusement to the World, he has ventured to give them, at the Request of his Friends, to the Publick. His chief Design will be found an Attempt towards solving the Phænomena of the Via Lactea, and in consequence of that Solution, the framing of a regular and rational Theory of the known Universe, before unattempted by any. But he is very sensible how difficult a Tas...

Few historical documents are more interesting or important than the contemporary songs in which the political partizan satirised his opponents and stirred up the courage of his friends, or in which the people exulted over victories gained abroad against their enemies or at home against their oppressors, or lamented over evil counsels and national calamities. Yet, though a few specimens have been published from time to time in collections of miscellaneous poetry, such as those of Percy and ...