Selection of voyage books

We have tried here to combine the maximum of information on books, research, conferences, exhibitions or other passengers on the passenger or Arab Islam. We put this section updated regularly according to information we collect. We invite you to not hesitate to pass from time to time to see what's new. Similarly if you have any information to us, we accept with pleasure ... Enjoy

Leon l'africain

Subject: This imaginary autobiography is based on a true story. In 1518, a Maghrebian ambassador, returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, was captured by Sicilian pirates who offer him as a gift to Leo X, the great pope of the Renaissance. This traveller was named Hassan al-Wazzan. He became the geographer Jean-Leon de Medicos, said Leo the African. Thus, after having lived in Granada, his birthplace, in Fez, Timbuktu, Cairo, Constantinople, Leo spent several years in Rome, where he teaches Arabic, writes Hebrew part of a multilingual dictionary, and writes , in Italian, his famous “Description of Africa”, who will stay for four centuries an essential reference point for knowledge of the black continent.
But even more fascinating as the work of Leo, that's life, his personal adventure that mark the major events of his time: he was in Grenada during the Reconquista, which, with his family, he had to flee the Inquisition, he was in Egypt when he was taken by the Ottomans, he was in black Africa at the height of the empire of Askia Mohammed Toure, he was finally in Rome to the most beautiful times of the Renaissance, as well as when the sacking of the city by the troops of Charles Quint. Man of East and West, men from Africa and Europe, Leo the African was a certain way, the ancestor of mankind Cosmo-polite today. His adventure had to be reconstructed from one year to another, from one city to another, from one fate to another. One could hardly find in history characters whose lives are more surprising that corresponds to this century was the sixteenth. Add to all this, the style of Amin Maalouf, that of a great writer.

Samarcande

Subject: Samarcande is a fictionalized biography of Omar Kayyam, from a lost manuscript in the Mongol invasions and found many centuries later. Kayyam Omar is one of the most famous poets of Persia. A poet of wine, free thinker, philosopher, astronomer of genius mathematician ahead of its time. It is also the time of Hassan Sabbah, who, at the head of the order of the Assassins, the most frightening sect of history, simply wanted to destroy the Turkish power. People fear master change, with its attendant massacres, suffering.

The city of joy

Subject: City of Joy is a song of brotherhood and love to the most disinherited people of the earth, along with a heartbreaking story, a single document on the ability of men to overcome suffering, misery and misfortune...

Easter of the Dead

Book: Forced into exile by the caliph, to have seduced the wife of another, Ahmed Ibn Fadhlan is sent as an ambassador in Minor Asia. A prophecy forced him to become the “13th Warrior” of a group of Vikings leaving to rescue Rothgar lord, whose village is regularly attacked by a horde of demons, half-human half-animal. During this long journey to northern Europe, Ahmed learns the language of his companions and weapons handling. On the spot, he must confront his own fears ...

My Name is Red

Subject: From the bottom of a black well, the victim of a horrible murder lays first stone for a story with many characters and twists. It snows in winter 1591 on the city of Istanbul, and the cold does not conspiracy and murder. Why precipitates there a miniaturist in the court of the Sultan in the abyss of death? His death has a relationship with the team as a painter committed to sharpening their brush painting in a fight between classic and modern, East and West, mixing pigments in their blood? The Black, back in Istanbul after a long exile, happens to finally conquer the beautiful Shekure and calms the tears of his court acids.

The Crusades seen through Arab Eyes

Topic: The Crusades seen through Arab Eyes, is the story “upside down”. Amin Maalouf, Lebanese writer, wrote the novel of the Crusades seen through Arab eyes. To do this, he builds on the works of medieval Arab historians including Francesco Gabrieli who translated excerpts in Arab chronicles of the Crusades. In this historical novel, the princes of Islam (Nourredine, Saladin, Baibars ...), columnists denigrated by the West, are portrayed as heroes. In contrast, the Crusaders become barbaric, worse yet, “the cannibals of Maar”.

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Subject: The young and beautiful Griet is hired as a maid in the house of the painter Vermeer. We are in Delft in the seventeenth century, the golden age of Dutch painting. Griet takes care of the household and the six children of Vermeer trying to coax the wife, step-mother and housekeeper, all very jealous of its prerogatives ... Over time, gentleness, sensitivity and vivacity of the girl move the master who introduced her into his universe. As their intimacy is affirmed, the scandal is spreading in the city ...

God’s Bits of Wood

Subject: This novel, which runs from Senegal to Sudan (now Mali), is inspired by real events: the strike of railwaymen of “Dakar-Niger”, the black workers who call themselves “God’s Bits of Wood”. They want to keep the traditions, the laws of the clan, the customs, but implacable progress rejects them. Along the railway line, countless characters intersect and come together: the Africans, who, as the strike lasts, are frightened, frightened of the long silence of the machines, and surprised by this move, the Europeans apply to maintain the prestige of the old Africa. But at the heart of these voices, these torn souls, there is a love for the Man all the more upsetting than lucid. Respect the man is not easy...

The journey of Ibn Battuta

Subject: In 1325, at the age of 21 years, Ibn Battuta left Tangier for a very long journey. It began with a pilgrimage to Mecca, but should extend throughout Asia, to China...

Arab travellers

Subject: This volume contains the following works:

• Ibn Fadlan: Travelogue.
• Ibn Jubayr: Relation travel.
• Ibn Battuta: Travels and adventures.

• Anonymous: Documents on China and India. Translated from Arabic by Paule Charles-Dominique. Edition Paule Charles-Dominique ...

Comment: “The nomadic atavism, trade in the long term, the obligation of the pilgrimage at least three reasons pushed Arabs to join the caravan of five thousand camels or to embark on the ships of the Red Sea. This volume brings together those who have left us the most remarkable stories of their tribulations. Ibn Fadlan walks in the Turks and Bulgarians to 921-922. The Andalusian Ibn Jubayr enjoys a pilgrimage to holy places to write a newspaper route is both instructive and picturesque descriptions of two cities, he sings the praises of Saladin, the chivalrous Crusader winner, then prevailing on Egypt and Syria. But the big piece of this collection is obviously Travel and Adventures of Ibn Battuta. Born in Tangier in 1304, the Marco Polo of Islam is a fabulous globe-trotting. The numbers speak for themselves: twenty-five years of wandering interspersed six trips to Mecca, one hundred and twenty miles kilometres by land or sea. His area stretches from Spain to China, Russia to Sumatra, Ceylon Niger. His religious intolerance led him to deal with a Jewish doctor “cursed, son of cursed “, or be scandalized by seeing beautiful black women half naked discussing freely with whoever they want. What a pity that Ibn Battuta had never ventured into Christian Europe!”

Didier Senecal

 « Le soleil d'Allah brille sur l'occident »

Subject: While Europe was struggling in a medieval conflict and deadlock, the Arab world was the scene of a wonderful civilization based on economic, intellectual and spiritual exchanges. In all disciplines - mathematics, astronomy, medicine, architecture, music and poetry - the Arabs multiplied the most prodigious achievements. Coming from Italy, Sicily, Spain and other territories under the domination or the Arab influence, passing through the great princes like Frederick II of Hohenstaufen or via the many travellers (traders, pilgrims , Crusaders, students), the achievements of this prestigious civilization have gradually reached Europe where they played a decisive role in the emergence of Western civilization. Sigrid Hunke paints a striking picture of this encounter between East and West. The influence of Arab civilization on that of Europe - influence too often overlooked, if not openly challenged - is finally put into the light -by Sigrid Hunke - Solange de Lalene (Translation), Georges de Lalene (Translation)