Ultima Thule; or, A Summer in Iceland. vol. 2/2

Name: Ultima Thule; or, A Summer in Iceland. vol. 2/2
Author: Sir Richard Francis Burton

By Sir Richard Francis Burton

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Travel Writing

About This Book

The author chronicles a summer's journey across Iceland, combining practical travel narrative with antiquarian and scientific observation. He reports on Reykjavik's schools, libraries, and collections, inventories of antiquities and basalt tools, and local customs; details routes, guides, horses, and fishing stations; records ascents of volcanic mountains, visits to geysers, solfataras, lakes and glaciers, and descriptions of sulphur workings; and intersperses anthropological notes and appendices on mineralogy, leasing contracts, and institutional reports. Illustrations, maps, and catalogued artifacts support an account that mixes field reportage, natural history, and cultural description.

About the Author

Sir Richard Francis Burton

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) was a British explorer, geographer, and linguist known for his adventurous spirit and extensive travels. He is particularly recognized for his explorations in Africa and the Middle East, including his notable work, "Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah," which details his journey to the holy cities of Islam. Burton was also an accomplished translator and contributed significantly to the understanding of various cultures through his writings, such as "The Book of the Sword" and "The Jew, The Gypsy and El Islam." His diverse interests and expertise in languages made him a prominent figure in the 19th-century exploration narrative.