The Holy Cities of Arabia.

RUTTER, Eldon.

Published by London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, Ltd, 1928

About this Item

First edition of this account of performing the hajj in the guise of a Syrian pilgrim, of "striking literary quality [and] enhanced by his remarkable talent for conveying a vivid and sympathetic insider's view of Islam's holy cities" (Facey, p. 1). Inspired by Burckhardt and Burton, Rutter studied Arabic in Egypt after the First World War. "He lived as a native until he felt so thoroughly at home in the language and well versed in the rites and traditions of Islam as to be confident of his ability to carry through the pilgrimage as a fully fledged Muhammadan" (Cox). Despite the death of his intended travelling companion and the outbreak of hostilities in the Hejaz, Rutter set out from Suez for Massawa, avoiding the usual Jeddah route, and returned to Egypt just over a year later. On its release, Rutter's account found favour with T. E. Lawrence, who wrote to Henry Williamson that the volumes "are most modestly good: very human, and fair, and fresh. The entire absence of great-mindedness is very charming. I wonder who he is? Some very queer fish, probably, who has lived for a long while on the wrong side of the world." Ghani, p. 586. Percy Cox, "An Englishman in Mecca", The Geographical Journal, vol. 73, no. 5, May 1929; William Facey & Sharon Sharpe, "Who was Eldon Rutter?", Journal of Arabian Studies, vol. 6, no. 2, 2016. 2 vols, octavo. Collotype frontispieces with captioned tissue guards, showing Kaaba in Mecca and Green Dome in Medina, 8 maps (2 folding). Original dark green bead-grain cloth over bevelled boards, spines lettered in gilt, Arabic script in gilt on front covers (Mecca on vol. I, Medina on vol. II), top edges gilt, bottom edges untrimmed. Contemporary ownership inscription (perhaps "Jordan A. Ackermann") on front free endpapers verso. Cloth lightly rubbed and marked, fore edge foxed, lesser foxing internally: very good.

Seller Inventory # 189196

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Holy Cities of Arabia.
• Publisher: London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, Ltd, 1928
• Edition: 1st Edition