ABOUT THE BOOK
Charles Huber: France’s Greatest Arabian Explorer
Charles Huber: France’s Greatest Arabian Explorer tells the extraordinary story of 19th-century Arabian exploration, bringing to light the life and work of French-Alsatian geographer Charles Huber (1847–1884).
Between 1880 and 1884, Huber undertook two daring expeditions into Arabia, pioneering the scientific mapping of inland regions and recording some of the earliest known North Arabian inscriptions and rock art. His tragic murder in 1884 meant that he left little published material, and the only connected narrative he completed was of his first journey in 1880–81.
This highly significant text, first published in 1885 and unavailable since, appears here in English translation for the first time. Historian William Facey’s introduction explores Huber’s complex and risk-taking personality, his Franco-German background, and the turbulent political context of his era.
The book also sheds new light on the Tayma Stele and the Nabataean inscriptions of Mada’in Salih, reassessing Huber’s collaboration with fellow explorer Julius Euting and the circumstances surrounding his final journey. Together, these accounts offer a rare and vivid insight into the challenges of exploring Arabia in the 19th century.
OUR NEW TITLES
Sea of Pearls
Before the discovery of oil, the sea was the Gulf’s greatest wealth. Each summer, fleets of wooden dhows sailed out into the turquoise waters, their crews diving deep on a single breath, armed only with a nose clip, a stone weight, and a rope. They returned to the surface clutching oysters, hoping for the prize within pearls so perfect they adorned the crowns of kings and captivated the luxury markets of India and Europe.
Lorimer
In 1908, the British government quietly commissioned a vast and meticulous record of the Arabian Gulf and surrounding regions. Compiled by John Gordon Lorimer, a senior political officer in the Indian Civil Service, The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia became one of the most extraordinary works of intelligence ever produced by a colonial administration.
Julius Euting
In the winter of 1883, German epigraphist Julius Euting and French-Alsatian geographer Charles Huber departed Damascus on a perilous journey into the heart of northern Arabia. Their mission: to uncover ancient inscriptions and reveal the region’s forgotten history.
In Praise of the Artisan
Across the Islamic world, artistry is not only preserved—it continues to evolve. From the rhythmic tapping of stone carvers in Rajasthan to the delicate calligraphy of Istanbul’s masters, from Cairo’s woodworkers to the skilled embroiderers of Makkah, crafts that have shaped homes, mosques, and cities for centuries are still vibrant today.
Bedouin Weaving
In the vast deserts of Arabia, where landscapes appear austere and endless, Bedouin women have for centuries created beauty from the simplest of materials. Using the wool of their camels, sheep, and goats, they wove vibrant textiles—bold geometric designs in deep reds, blacks, and whites—that adorned tents, protected families from the elements, and carried symbolic meaning.
A Journey to Arabia Felix
In the vast deserts of Arabia, where landscapes appear austere and endless, Bedouin women have for centuries created beauty from the simplest of materials. Using the wool of their camels, sheep, and goats, they wove vibrant textiles—bold geometric designs in deep reds, blacks, and whites—that adorned tents, protected families from the elements, and carried symbolic meaning.