Mission to the Volga
By: by Aḥmad ibn Faḍlān ; translated by James E. Montgomery ; foreword by Tim Severin ; volume editor, Shawkat M. Toorawa
Contributors: Montgomery, James E. (James Edward), 1962- translator; Toorawa, Shawkat M., editor; Severin, Timothy, author of foreword
Series: Library of Arabic Literature; Library of Arabic literature
Publisher: New York University Press
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 138
ISBN-13: 9781479899890
Subjects: Travel; History; Description and travel; Bulgars (Turkic people)
Work titles: Kitāb ilá malik al-Ṣaqālibah
Description: "Mission to the Volaga is the oldest surviving instance of sustained first-person travel narrative in Arabic--a pioneering text of peerless historical and literary value ... 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, narrated with as much curiosity and zeal as they were perceived by its observant beholder."--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Translated from the Arabic.

"A riveting travelogue from Baghdad to the Central Asian steppe"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 106-127) and index.

Translated from the Arabic.