The Amelia B. Edwards Library

Amelia B. Edwards

Come with me into a world of untrodden valleys, haunted roads, distant cities, ancient temples, and lives governed by passions no less mysterious than the past itself. The Amelia B. Edwards Library presents the works of the remarkable Victorian novelist, traveller, Egyptologist, and teller of ghost stories, read in full. From the shadowy suspense of her supernatural tales to her journeys along the Nile and through the mountains of Europe, these are books written with curiosity, wit, courage, and an inexhaustible appetite for discovery. Open the first page, and the journey begins.

  1. Episode 1

    A Thousand Miles up the Nile Preface to the First and Second Editions

    In which the reader is introduced to the enchanting and timeless land of Egypt, where the enduring customs of its people and the mysteries of ancient hieroglyphs intertwine with the leisure of travel by dahabeeyah along the storied Nile. The narrative gently reflects on the progress of Egyptology, the enduring charm of the landscape, and the subtle continuity between past and present observed throughout these remarkable ancient environs.

  2. Episode 2

    A Thousand Miles up the Nile Chapter I - Cairo and the Great Pyramid Part 1

    In which the author and her companion arrive in bustling Cairo quite by chance, seeking respite from persistent rain, and find themselves immersed in the eclectic and colourful variety of travellers and native life around Shepheard’s Hotel. They revel in the vivid sights and sounds of the bazaars, with their lively mix of costumes, street scenes, and characters offering a picturesque glimpse of the city's timeless Oriental charm.

  3. Episode 3

    A Thousand Miles up the Nile Chapter I - Cairo and the Great Pyramid Part 2

    In which the bustling bazaars of Cairo come vividly to life, with their rich tapestry of merchants in dazzling robes, colourful wares from silks to slippers, and cramped goldsmiths’ shops brimming with delicate treasures, all set against a backdrop of ancient streets and timeless customs. The narrative then turns to the perplexing endeavour of selecting a dahabeeyah, where the sameness of the boats and their captains, shifting moorings, and fluctuating prices create a labyrinthine challenge for the unaccustomed traveller.

  4. Episode 4

    A Thousand Miles up the Nile Chapter I - Cairo and the Great Pyramid Part 3

    In which the difficulties and perplexities of securing a suitable dahabeeyah for Nile travel are recounted with gentle humour, and a first, brief visit to the imposing pyramids reveals their majestic size and ancient presence in a manner that no prior reading or distant view could prepare one for. The writer finds herself struck by the tangible sense of time embodied in these formidable monuments, their shadows stretching far across the desert as a silent testament to countless centuries passed.

  5. Episode 5

    A Thousand Miles up the Nile Chapter II - Cairo and the Mecca Pilgrimage Part 1

    In which the august mosque of Sultan Hassan in Cairo reveals itself as a splendid exemplar of Saracenic art, its vast marble court alive with devout worshippers whose quiet prayers and repose imbue the ancient walls with a solemn, lived-in grace. The narrative then ascends to the commanding heights of the citadel, where the contrasting mosque of Mehemet Ali stands conspicuously amidst sweeping views of the Nile valley and the city’s myriad minarets, evoking reflections on history and the enduring spirit of Cairo.

  6. Episode 6

    A Thousand Miles up the Nile Chapter II - Cairo and the Mecca Pilgrimage Part 2

    In which we find ourselves amidst a bustling Cairo pageant, where diverse crowds gather in joyous disorder to witness the departure of a pilgrim caravan, complete with splendid military displays, ecstatic dervishes, and the revered mahmal borne proudly upon a camel. The following day, the quiet solemnity of a dervish convent contrasts sharply with the previous spectacle, as the mystical ceremony of the howling dervishes begins in a humble whitewashed hall accompanied by plaintive music and reverent invocations.

  7. Episode 7

    A Thousand Miles up the Nile Chapter II - Cairo and the Mecca Pilgrimage Part 3

    In which we witness a most intense and bewildering dervish ceremony, marked by a mounting frenzy that is both fascinating and somewhat unsettling, followed by a visit to the ancient and weathered Mosque of Amr, a place steeped in the distant dawn of Saracenic architecture. Our wandering then leads us through the lively streets of Cairo, a splendid marriage procession, and the verdant gardens of the khedive’s summer palace, as the golden sunset prepares us for the imminent beginning of our Nile voyage.

  8. Episode 8

    A Thousand Miles up the Nile Chapter III - Cairo to Bedreshayn Part 1

    In which the author and her companions hasten from Cairo to board their dahabeeyah, the Philæ, where preparations and convivial gatherings set the scene for a leisurely and homely voyage upriver. As the boat glides past the fading cityscape and the quarries of Turra, the tranquil beauty of the Nile valley unfolds beneath a glowing sunset, promising adventures yet to come.

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About

Come with me into a world of untrodden valleys, haunted roads, distant cities, ancient temples, and lives governed by passions no less mysterious than the past itself. The Amelia B. Edwards Library presents the works of the remarkable Victorian novelist, traveller, Egyptologist, and teller of ghost stories, read in full. From the shadowy suspense of her supernatural tales to her journeys along the Nile and through the mountains of Europe, these are books written with curiosity, wit, courage, and an inexhaustible appetite for discovery. Open the first page, and the journey begins.

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