Layard of Nineveh
1963, First Edition. [London] : John Murray. Very good cloth copy in a very good if slightly edge-nicked and dust-toned dust-wrapper, now mylar-sleeved. Faint foxing to edges and prelims. Remains well-preserved overall; internally strong and clean. Item #476583
Physical description; x, 535 pages : illustrations, folded map, portraits ; 22 cm. Notes; Illustrations include plates (1 folding), map and facsimile. Includes bibliographical references in "Notes" (pages 491-508). Contents; Part 1. Travel 1817-1845 – Disraeli and the Arabian nights – 'We rode alone' – 'Mystery hangs over Assyria' – Adventures with the Bakhtiari – 'I scarcely know which way to turn' – Constantinople and Sir Stratford Canning – Part II. Archaeology 1845-1851 – visions of places underground – they have found Nimrod himself! – a firman without funds – the Nestorians and Yezidis – treated as a master-bricklayer – the bull is taken to the Tigris – Triumphal return to England – the greatest achievement of our time – the Winged Lions leave Nimrud – Nineveh and Babylon – Part III. Politics 1852-1869 – visions of ambition – where are you to stop Russia? – into the cannon's mouth – we looked to you as our champion – India during the mutiny – collared and harnessed – Part IV. Diplomacy: Spain 1869-1877 – Bismarck and the Spanish king – they will kill him too – revolutions give one a deal of work – presumptuous Dons – Part V. Diplomacy: Turkey 1877-1884 – Gladstone a mere vulgar pamphleteer – Disraeli makes Layard ambassador – the amiable Sultan Abdul Hamid – Turkey is fighting our battle – it is Poland over again – the Russians threaten Constantinople – Negotiations for Cyprus – Another quarrel with Gladstone – the very heart of chaos – Gladstone recalls Layard – Part VI. Retirement 1884-1894 – Art and writing in Venice – the thieving of Assyrian antiquities – what many have attempted you have done – a hundred years later. Subjects; Layard, Austen Henry, Sir (1817-1894) – Biography. Archaeologists – Great Britain – Biography. Explorers – Great Britain – Biography.
Price: €30.00