This is an annotated translation of al-Tahtawi's "Takhlis al-Ibriz fi Talkhis Bariz", an Arabic account of a visit to Paris by a Muslim from the Near East. Its author, a young Azhari graduate, was a member of the first Egyptian educational mission to Paris where he spent five years in the first half of the 19th century. In addition to its historical and literary value, the volume offers insights into misconceptions about the continent and the "other", and the disorientation that follows a descent into a new world. The work came to play a crucial role in bringing Western ideas to 19th-century Muslims.
Author Biography
Daniel L. Newman holds a PhD in Arabic literature and language from the University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies). His research focuses on Arabic travel, geographical literature, instrumental phonetics and Arabic dialectology. He is currently senior lecturer at the Haute Ecole de Bruxelles.
