The Heart of Arabia – A Record of Travel & Exploration Vol I+II (1923) is an exceptionally well-written and beautifully illustrated reflection on the travels and experiences of Harry St John Philby, also known as Jack Philby or Sheikh Abdullah.
The author was a most unorthodox representative of Great Britain in Arabia – and for quite some time also the only British representative there.
He was the first Westerner who traversed Arabia from East to West, held a deep respect for the Arabian culture and learned himself Arabic. In time, he even adopted the Muslim faith and became close friends with and advisor to Ibn Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia.
At the same time, however, Philby remained British to the core and maintained his British home. He was a remarkable adventurer, a man of the world, and a mapmaker extraordinaire. He was also in some ways a driven man, who often saw the world in black and white.
Harry St John Philby is mostly forgotten today or – if remembered – it is as the father of the infamous Soviet spy, Kim Philby. That is actually quite sad, as Philby Sr. is a much more interesting character, and his book is well worth reading.
It is a large file, primarily due to the many illustrations and the 814 pages. So make some coffee while downloading or have patience a minute or two 🙂
Download The Heart of Arabia – A Record of Travel & Exploration Vol I+II (67,2 MB / 814 pages)
