T.J. GORTON has published two books of Arabic poetry in translation and coedited Lebanon: Through Writers' Eyes. His most recent book is Renaissance Emir: A Druze Warlord at the Court of the Medici, a biography of seventeenth century Lebanese prince Fakhr al-Din Ma'n.

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• ContentsIntroductionIn the BeginningHistorical Survey, 1858 Murray’s HandbookFoundation Myth, c. AD 450 Nonnus of PanapolisA Difficult Neighborhood, c. AD 18 StraboBerytus, Mother of LawsFavorite of Agrippa, AD 94 Flavius JosephusDesolation, c. AD 555 Joannes BarbucallusCrusader TimesRuins and Columns, 1052 Nasir-i-KhusrauThe Fall of Beirut, 1111 William of TyreA Border Town, 1177 Johannes PhocasTo the Holy LandEuropean Discovery of Bananas, 1548 Antoine RegnaultArrival in Beirut, 1697 Henry MaundrellThe Ottoman CityPalace of Fakhr al-Din, 1697 Henry MaundrellMisery and Splendor, 1665 Laurent d’ArvieuxEnglish Bombs and French Roads, 1858 Murray’s HandbookFirst ViewsA Comforting Flag, 1832 Alphonse de LamartineA Difficult Landing, 1838 Edouard Blondel Difficult Commuting, 1858 Murray’s HandbookWhat to Expect, 1876 Baedeker 1876Arriving by Land, 1878 Gabriel Charmes Physical SettingArrival in Beirut, 1737 Richard PocockeA Magnificent Setting, 1858 Murray’s HandbookLift Up Thine Eyes, 1878 Gabriel CharmesPicturesque Scene, 1894 Baedeker 1894The Pine ForestLandscape of Dreams, 1832 Alphonse de LamartineFavorite Excursion, 1876 Baedeker 1876We’re Not in Egypt Any More, 1849 Gustave FlaubertThe Grand TourBeirut Condemned to be Miserable, 1784 C. F. VolneyA Queenly Tailor’s Wife, 1851 Gérard de NervalReligion and Holy PlacesEuropean Assimilation, 1878 Gabriel CharmesA Beard Story, 1697 Henry MaundrellUncomfortable Bedfellows, 1894 Baedeker 1894 Promenades and ExcursionsBride of the Sea, 1858 J. Lewis FarleyRide to the Nahr el-Kelb, 1858 Murray’s HandbookA Baalbek Diversion, 1722 Jean de la Roque Murder in the Temple, 1737 Richard PocockePoetic Inspiration in the Ruins, 1833 Alphonse de LamartineBaalbek, 1838 Edouard BlondelPeopleA City of Songsters, 1665 Laurent d’ArvieuxAn Arab Theater, 1850 David UrquhartA Stroll at Siesta-Time, 1851 Gérard de Nerval Lands of the Past, 1876 Viscount de VogüéEvening promenades, 1878 Gabriel CharmesThe SouksThe Bazaar, 1838 Edouard BlondelClothes-Shopping, 1851 Gérard de NervalCustoms and FashionThe Tantour, 1850 David UrquhartHospitality, 1851 Gérard de NervalBeauties of Beirut, 1869 Mark TwainTypes and Costumes, 1878 Gabriel CharmesRites of PassageA Christian Wedding, 1832 Alphonse de LamartineA Muslim Funeral, 1851 Gérard de NervalThe Turkish BathLadies’ Day at the Bath, 1832 Alphonse de LamartineThe Hammam, 1854 R.P. Laorty-HadjiThe French ConnectionFrench Education for Girls and Boys, 1878 Gabriel CharmesA Levantine Investigation, 1914 Maurice BarrèsAmericans AbroadAmerican Missionaries, 1878 Gabriel CharmesA Difficult Language, 1910 Henry JessupCommercial Instinct, 1869 Mark TwainAn Easy Place to Govern? 1861 Henry JessupThe Modern MetropolisBeirut’s Bright Future, 1851 Gérard de NervalMainstream of Progress, 1854 R.P. Laorty-HadjiBeirut Modernizes, 1863 Henry Jessup Epitome of the East, 1905 Gertrude BellA Place to be Reckoned With, 1918 T E LawrenceConstant Yet Changeable, 1946 Robin FeddenCommercial Ardor, 1946 Robin FeddenThe TravelersBibliography