PDF Ebook The Collector of Worlds: A Novel of Sir Richard Francis Burton, by Iliya Troyanov
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The Collector of Worlds: A Novel of Sir Richard Francis Burton, by Iliya Troyanov
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“Iliya Troyanov has turned Burton’s unbelievable life into believable fiction, achieving a rounded and satisfying portrait that traditional biography could never match.”
—New York Times Book Review
The Collector of Worlds is a fictionalized account of the infamous life and times of Sir Richard Francis Burton—the British colonial officer stationed in India who made the Haj to Mecca, discovered the source of the Nile, spoke twenty-nine languages, and translated A Thousand and One Arabian Nights and the Kama Sutra into English. The winner of the fiction prize of Germany’s Leipzig Book Fair in 2006 and the Berlin Literary Award, The Collector of Worlds is a brilliant re-imagining of a richly eventful, truly incredible life.
- Sales Rank: #561451 in Books
- Published on: 2010-01-19
- Released on: 2010-01-19
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.00" h x 1.05" w x 5.31" l, .75 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 464 pages
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Troyanov recounts with gusto the three big adventures in Sir Richard Francis Burton's oversized life: his career as officer and spy—which ended when he delivered a report on British soldiers frequenting a male brothel; his famous journey to Mecca in the guise of a doctor from India; and his exploration, with John Speke, of the great African lakes that feed the Nile. The most alluring adventure is the Indian one, which largely concerns itself with Burton's affair with the luscious Kundalini, who ignites Burton's interest in Eastern wisdom stories by commingling storytelling with sex. Burton's haj to Mecca is fascinating for the details, and that Burton pulls it off. But the book's most satisfying adventure is the African explorations; Troyanov captures the psychology of the two very different (and by the end of the trip, mutually hostile) explorers as well as he does the histories of the African peoples whose lands they pass through. Troyanov (Mumbai to Mecca) is intimately acquainted with the Indian Ocean world, and this book has the cool virtuosity of one explorer saluting another. (Apr.)
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From Booklist
The current boom in the fictional biography genre is responsible for the rescue of an array of fascinating historical figures from scholarly obscurity. Colonial officer, linguist, master of disguise, spy, and explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton is a primary example. His larger-than-life true story serves as an ideal vehicle for an episodic foray into the nineteenth-century world of British colonialism. Boomeranging from India to Arabia to Africa, Burton encounters romance, intrigue, and danger while absorbing the cultures, languages, and customs of every place he visits. Troyanov artfully employs multiple narrators, lending these adventures both depth and perspective. Historical-fiction aficionados will definitely want to accompany this seasoned voyager on his exotic journeys. --Margaret Flanagan
Review
“There are novels so finely constructed that they propel you back to the beginning at the moment you reach the end. Instead of closing the covers, you return to the first page with fresh eyes. Iliya Troyanov’s ‘The Collector of Worlds’ is a wonderfully sumptuous example.” (Boston Globe)
“I was thrilled by this book. One could compare it to Moby-Dick, narrated in a masterly manner. . . . This is a novel that entertains as well as informs, and this is the best that one could say of any book.” (Günter Grass)
“Mesmerizing...the perfect present for wannabe explorers.” (National Geographic Traveler Online)
“A rounded and satisfying portrait that traditional biography could never match…Troyanov’s novel is itself an act of brave exploration, setting out to chart the unknown and unknowable by filling in the blank spaces of Richard Francis Burton.” (New York Times Book Review)
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Read THE DEVIL DRIVES instead
By Dave Schwinghammer
In a note prior to beginning his novel, Iliya Troyanov makes the following disclaimer about THE COLLECTOR OF WORLDS: "Despite occasional direct quotations, its characters and plot are predominately the product of the author's imagination and make no claim to be measured against biographical fact." Rather then focus on Richard Burton, for some reason Troyanov let's us see him through the eyes of minor characters.
Troyanov divides the novel into three parts: Burton's exploits in India as a young army captain; his infiltration of Medina and Mecca; and his efforts to find the source of the Nile.
For the first segment, Troynanov relies on the point of view of Naukaram, Burton's servant. Most of this is about Naukaram's efforts to get a letter of recommendation written by a lahiya (a sort of scribe) by telling him of his time with Burton after he had been dismissed for getting into a fight with a chef. As a result we don't learn much about Burton's exploits as a spy. However, we do see him begin to wear Arab clothes and begin to learn several languages.
The second part, Burton's penetration of the Moslem holy cities, mostly deals with various Islamic officials investigating how Burton was able to overcome their defenses. We hear from The Sharif of Mecca among others. They interrogate the innocent pilgrims who accompanied Burton on his Hajj. Most have nothing but good things to say about Burton. Burton assumes the disguise of a Persian doctor and dervisher who likes to drink. This doesn't surprise the pilgrims much. Meanwhile we're introduced to some curious Islamic activities, such as circumambulating anti-clockwise the Kaaba, the supposed Rock of Abraham, seven times along with hundreds of other pilgrims who try to touch it.
The third segment deals with Burton's attempt to find the source of the Nile. Burton sets out, with fellow explorer John Speke, on a caravan led by African guide and former slave, Sidi Mubarek Bombay, to find the two mysterious lakes, one of which Speke names Lake Victoria. Burton is sick with malaria most to the time. As a result, Speke gets the jump on him with the help of Bombay. Bombay likes to tell stories. Unfortunately his wife has heard most of them; their humorous interaction is the highlight of this part of the book.
Troyanov skips over the debate with Speke about the true source of the Nile. He doesn't even cover Speke's suicide (or hunting accident) on the eve of a debate with Burton. Instead we see Burton on his death bed and the priest who administers extreme unction is worried that Burton was not a Christian. Luckily the bishop has a somewhat more magnanimous interpretation of the term.
There is a glossary at the back of the book, but it seemed that every time I looked for a word, it was missing. Personally I think a writer should think twice before he/she choses a historical character as the inspiration for a novel. It almost never works, especially when the author approaches the task from such an oblique angle. The reader would be better off reading Burton's own accounts or THE DEVIL DRIVES by Fawn
Brodie.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Makes it all so real.
By C. Gallardo
An amazing man who led an amazing life, and this book brings it all to life for the reader. Years ago the BBC produced a wonderful series on the search for the source of the Nile, and so that part of Burton's story can be SEEN, but such a brilliant life that was full of such high adventure could never be shown without a VERY VERY long series made at terrible expense. This book, while covering only certain exciting phases of his career, comes as close as anything can to making it all real for you, short of giving you malaria.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
The Collector of Worlds: A Novel of Sir Richard Burton
By Ted B.
This was an excellent selection! Burton was truly a universal man, and the book read like the wind! Great book! Burton is known for his exotic travel adventures all over the world in the 19th century, and was a linguist who spoke 29 languages! He also wrote a great quantity of books, which have been read by interested people everywhere.
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