| Abstract: | This article examines the experiences of Persia of four British writers, whose travels were spread over the nineteenth century. David Blow describes, and quotes extensively from, their published works. He begins with Captain John Malcolm, who first visited Persia as a diplomatic envoy in 1800, then turns to the archaeologist, Henry Layard, who spent months with the semi-nomadic tribes in south-west Persia in1840/1841. Blow then relates the journeys of Isabella Bishop through western Persia which took place in 1889. Coincidentally this was almost at the same time as the journey to Persia of Lord Curzon, whose great work Persia and the Persia Question, crowns all 19th century writing on Persia. This is the edited text of the lecture which he gave to the Society on 21st May 2008. |
