Title A Physician on the Nile A Description of Egypt and Journal of the Famine Years

Published New York : New York University Press, 2021

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Description 1 online resource (251 p.) Series Library of Arabic Literature Ser Library of Arabic Literature Ser Contents Frontmatter -- Letter from the General Editor -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Maps -- Note on the Text -- Notes to the Introduction -- A Physician on the Nile -- Introduction -- Part One, consisting of six chapters -- Part Two, consisting of three chapters -- Notes -- Glossary of Names and Terms -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute -- About the Typefaces -- Titles Published by the Library of Arabic Literature -- About the Editor-Translator Summary Flora, fauna, and famine in thirteenth-century EgyptA Physician on the Nile begins as a description of everyday life in Egypt at the turn of the seventh/thirteenth century, before becoming a harrowing account of famine and pestilence. Written by the polymath and physician ʿAbd al-Laṭīf al-Baghdādī, and intended for the Abbasid caliph al-Nāṣir, the first part of the book offers detailed descriptions of Egypt's geography, plants, animals, and local cuisine, including a recipe for a giant picnic pie made with three entire roast lambs and dozens of chickens. ʿAbd al-Laṭīf's text is also a pioneering work of ancient Egyptology, with detailed observations of Pharaonic monuments, sculptures, and mummies. An early and ardent champion of archaeological conservation, ʿAbd al-Laṭīf condemns the vandalism wrought by tomb-robbers and notes with distaste that Egyptian grocers price their goods with labels written on recycled mummy-wrappings.The book's second half relates his horrific eyewitness account of the great famine that afflicted Egypt in the years 597-598/1200-1202. ʿAbd al-Laṭīf was a keen observer of humanity, and he offers vivid first-hand depictions of starvation, cannibalism, and a society in moral free-fall.A Physician on the Nile contains great diversity in a small compass, distinguished by the acute, humane, and ever-curious mind of its author. It is rare to be able to hear the voice of such a man responding so directly to novelty, beauty, and tragedy.A bilingual Arabic-English edition Notes Description based upon print version of record Subject Natural history -- Egypt -- Pre-Linnean works Famines -- Egypt -- History -- 13th century LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Middle Eastern. Famines Natural history Travel SUBJECT Egypt -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800 Egypt -- History -- 640-1250. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85041291 Subject Egypt Genre/Form Early works History Form Electronic book Author Mackintosh-Smith, Tim ISBN 1479806234 9781479806232

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