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Book/Printed Material The history of Persia, from the most early period to the present time : containing an account of the religion, government, usages, and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom.

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About this Item

Title

  • The history of Persia, from the most early period to the present time : containing an account of the religion, government, usages, and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom.

Summary

  • Sir John Malcolm (1769-1833) was a British soldier, colonial administrator, diplomat, linguist, and historian. He was born in Scotland, left school at age 12, and, through an uncle, secured a position in the East India Company. While stationed in various parts of India as an officer in the company's military forces, he became interested in foreign languages, which he studied diligently. He became fluent in Persian and, over the years, served as an interpreter and British envoy to Persia in various capacities. In 1815, he published his The History of Persia, From the Most Early Period to the Present Time, which earned him literary fame and an honorary doctorate from Oxford University. In two volumes, the book covers the period from the legendary Pishdadian Dynasty to the early 19th century. Malcolm drew on both written sources and his own extensive experiences in India and Persia. Volume 2 is particularly valuable as an account of Persia in the early 1700s, with descriptions of the country's rulers, religions, government, and society. Although Malcolm deeply admired Persian culture and civilization, he believed that the country badly needed political reform, a subject that he addressed in the concluding section of the book. Translated into French in 1821 and German in 1830, The History of Persia was the standard Western work on Persia until the appearance, in 1915, of Percy Molesworth Sykes's A History of Persia. World Digital Library.

Names

  • Malcolm, John, 1769-1833.

Created / Published

  • London, J. Murray [etc.] 1815.

Headings

  • -  Iran--History

Notes

  • -  digital files not viewed; td12 2013-8-27

Medium

  • 2 v. front. (fold. map) 22 pl. (incl. ports.) 32 cm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • DS272 .M34

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 05012106

Online Format

  • image
  • pdf
  • online text

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

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Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Malcolm, John. The history of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages, and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. [London, J. Murray et, 1815] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/05012106/.

APA citation style:

Malcolm, J. (1815) The history of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages, and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. [London, J. Murray et] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/05012106/.

MLA citation style:

Malcolm, John. The history of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages, and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. [London, J. Murray et, 1815] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/05012106/>.