Charles M. Doughty’s Travels in Arabia Deserta, Volume 1 is a monumental exploration of Arabia. With a journey that saw him travel from Damascus to Ha’il, ultimately reaching as far south as Makkah, he provides one of the most detailed accounts of Arabian culture, geography, customs, and social dynamics. His remarkable analysis of Madain Saleh brought the ancient Nabataean site into the world’s consciousness for the first time, spawning a new generation of historians and scholars. Venturing through deserts and towns previously unseen by foreign travellers, he captured a fascinating moment of transition in Arabia, which was on the cusp of historic transformation. With a new map, glossary, and foreword by writer and historian Andrew Taylor, this edition revisits Doughty’s invaluable contribution to Arabian exploration.
