Flora, fauna, and famine in thirteenth-century Egypt
A Physician on the Nile begins as a description of everyday life in Egypt at the turn of the seventh/thirteenth century, before becoming a harrowing account of famine and pestilence. Written by the polymath and physician 'Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi, and intended for the Abbasid caliph al-Nasir, the first part of the book offers detailed descriptions of Egypt's geography, plants, animals, and local cuisine, including a recipe for a giant picnic pie made with three entire roast lambs and dozens of chickens. 'Abd al-Latif's text is also a pioneering work of ancient Egyptology, with detailed observations of Pharaonic monuments, sculptures, and mummies. An early and ardent champion of archaeological conservation, 'Abd al-Latif condemns the vandalism wrought by tomb-robbers and notes with distaste that Egyptian grocers price their goods with labels written on recycled mummy-wrappings.
The book's second half relates his horrific eyewitness account of the great famine that afflicted Egypt in the years 597-598/1200-1202. 'Abd al-Latif was a keen observer of humanity, and he offers vivid first-hand depictions of starvation, cannibalism, and a society in moral free-fall.
A Physician on the Nile contains great diversity in a small compass, distinguished by the acute, humane, and ever-curious mind of its author. It is rare to be able to hear the voice of such a man responding so directly to novelty, beauty, and tragedy.
A bilingual Arabic-English edition.

About the Author
'Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi (Author)
'Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi (557-629/1162-1231) was a Baghdad-born physician and scientist who wrote books on a wide range of topics, including medicine, philology, mathematics, and philosophy.
Tim Mackintosh-Smith (Edited and Translated by)
Tim Mackintosh-Smith is a noted British travel author, best known for his trilogy on the renowned Moroccan world-traveler Ibn Battutah, which earned him a spot among Newsweek's top twelve travel writers of the past hundred years. Since 1982, he has lived in Sanaa, Yemen.


Reviews
"In A Physician on the Nile, Mackintosh-Smith, an award-winning writer and translator, provides no less than an exemplary access to the enthralling as well as abhorring diversity of 'Abd al-Latif's words." * Journal of Near Eastern Studies *



Book Information
ISBN 9781479806249
Author 'Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi
Format Hardback
Page Count 300
Imprint New York University Press
Publisher New York University Press
Weight(grams) 649g