Summary
There is charm too. Take, for instance, his account of Osman Effendi whom he knew in Cairo. His history was 'a curious one' and his name misleading, for 'he was a Scotchman born'. He was taken prisoner and 'according to Mahometan custom, the alternative of Death or the Koran was offered to him; he did not choose Death'. Later he 'gave a sincere pledge of his sincere alienation from Christianity by keeping a couple of wives'.
See the full content of this document
Extract
A Very Slippery Book
A review of another biography of that tiresome poser, Lady Hester Stanhope, sent me back to Kinglake's Eothen and the account of the visit he paid the Queen of the Desert, who dwelt in tents (as he found she didn't) and reigned over wand...
See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
