Richard Francis Burton  

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-'''Sir Richard Francis Burton''' ([[March 19]], [[1821]] – [[October 20]], [[1890]]) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[explorer]], [[translator]], [[writer]], [[soldier]], [[orientalist]], [[ethnologist]], [[linguistics|linguist]], [[poet]], [[hypnotism|hypnotist]], [[fencing|fencer]] and [[diplomat]]. He was known for his travels and explorations within [[Asia]] and [[Africa]] as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages.+:''[[British erotica]], [[Scandals in the life of Richard Burton]], [[Baital Pachisi]]''
 +'''Sir Richard Francis Burton''' (19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[explorer]], [[translator]], [[writer]], [[soldier]], [[orientalist]], [[ethnologist]], [[linguistics|linguist]], [[poet]], [[hypnotism|hypnotist]], [[fencing|fencer]] and [[diplomat]]. He was known for his travels and explorations within [[Asia]] and [[Africa]] as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages.
Burton's best-known achievements include traveling in disguise to [[Mecca]], making an [[unexpurgated]] translation of ''[[The Book of One Thousand and One Nights|The Book of One Thousand Nights and A Night]]'' (the collection is more commonly called ''The Arabian Nights'' in English because of [[Andrew Lang]]'s abridgment) and the ''[[Kama Sutra]]''. Burton's best-known achievements include traveling in disguise to [[Mecca]], making an [[unexpurgated]] translation of ''[[The Book of One Thousand and One Nights|The Book of One Thousand Nights and A Night]]'' (the collection is more commonly called ''The Arabian Nights'' in English because of [[Andrew Lang]]'s abridgment) and the ''[[Kama Sutra]]''.
-==Scandals in the life of Richard Burton == +==Works==
-Richard Burton was always [[controversial]] and there were those in British society who would leave a room rather than associate with him. In his [[army]] career he was sometimes known as "Ruffian Dick" and this lack of respect for authority and convention made him many enemies and gave him a reputation in some parts as a [[rogue]]. +
-Firstly, in a society where [[sexual repression]] was the norm, Burton's writing was unusually open and [[frank]] about his interest in [[sex]] and [[human sexuality|sexuality]]. His travel writing is often full of details about the sexual lives of the inhabitants of areas he travelled through and many of these details would have been shocking to the average Briton. Burton's interest in sexuality led him to make measurements of the lengths of the sexual organs of male inhabitants of various regions which he includes in his travel books. He also describes sexual techniques common in the regions he visited, often hinting that he had participated, hence breaking both sexual and racial [[taboo]]s of his day. Many people at the time considered the Kama Shastra Society and the books it published scandalous.+:''[[The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night]], [[Kama Sutra]], [[Baital Pachisi]], [[The Perfumed Garden]]''
 +===The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night===
 +One of the most celebrated of all his books is his translation of the ''The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night'' (more commonly known in English as ''[[The Book of One Thousand and One Nights|The Arabian Nights]]'' because of [[Andrew Lang]]'s abridged collection) in [[List of stories within The Book of One Thousand and One Nights|ten volumes]], (1885) with six further volumes being added later. The volumes were printed by the Kama Shashtra Society in a subscribers-only edition of one thousand with a guarantee that there would never be a larger printing of the books in this form. The stories collected were often sexual in content and were considered [[pornography]] at the time of publication. In particular, the ''[[Terminal Essay]]'' of the ''Nights'' was one of the first English language texts to dare address the practice of [[pederasty]] which he postulated was prevalent in an area of the southern latitudes named by him the "[[Sotadic zone]]." Rumors about Burton’s own sexuality were already circulating and were further incited by this work.
-Allegations of [[homosexuality]] dogged Burton throughout most of his life, a particularly serious accusation as it was a criminal offence in England at the time. Biographers disagree on whether or not Burton ever experienced [[Homosexuality|homosexual]] sex (he never directly acknowledges it in his writing). These allegations began in his army days when General Sir [[Charles James Napier]] requested that Burton go undercover to investigate a male [[brothel]] reputed to be frequented by British soldiers. It has been suggested that Burton's detailed report on the workings of the brothel may have led some to believe he had been a customer. His later writings on the subject of [[pederasty]] and the fact that he and Isabel remained childless gave further ground for speculation. +===Kama Sutra===
 +Perhaps Burton's best-known book is his translation of ''[[Kama Sutra|The Kama Sutra]]''. In fact, it is not really true that he was the translator since the original manuscript was in ancient [[Sanskrit]] which he could not read. However, he collaborated with [[Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot]] on the work and provided translations from other manuscripts of later translations. The Kama Shashtra Society first printed the book in 1883 and numerous editions of the Burton translation are in print to this day.
-Burton was a heavy [[alcohol|drinker]] at various times in his life and also admitted to taking both [[Cannabis (drug)|hemp]] and [[opium]]. Friends of the poet [[Algernon Swinburne]] blamed Burton for leading him astray, holding Burton responsible for Swinburne's [[alcoholism]] and interest in the works of the [[Marquis de Sade]].+===The Perfumed Garden===
 +His English translation from a French edition of the Arabic erotic guide ''[[The Perfumed Garden]]'' was printed as ''The Perfumed Garden of the Cheikh Nefzaoui: A Manual of Arabian Erotology'' (1886). After Richard's death [[Isabel Burton|Isabel]] burnt many of his papers, including a manuscript of a subsequent translation, ''The Scented Garden'', containing the final chapter of the work, on [[pederasty]]. It is interesting to note that Burton all along intended for this translation to be published after his death, to provide a competence for his widow, and also, as a final gesture of defiance against [[Victorian society]].
-Burton was also accused of having murdered a man on his trip to [[Mecca]]. The story was that on the journey he had accidentally revealed himself as a [[Europe]]an and killed the man (in some versions a boy) to keep his secret. While Burton often denied this, he was also given to baiting gullible listeners. Famously a doctor once asked him, "How do you feel when you have killed a man?" Burton retorted, "Quite jolly, what about you?" When asked by a [[priest]] about the same incident Burton is said to have replied "Sir, I'm proud to say I have committed every sin in the [[Ten Commandments|Decalogue]]."+===Baital Pachisi===
-These allegations coupled with Burton's often-irascible nature were said to have harmed his career and may explain why he was not promoted further, either in army life or in the diplomatic service. As an obituary described: "...he was ill fitted to run in official harness, +'''''Baital Pachisi''''' or '''''Vetala Panchvimshati''''' ("''Twenty five tales of Baital''") or '''''Vikram and The Vampire''''' is a collection of tales and [[legend]]s from [[History of India|India]]. It was originally written in [[Sanskrit]]. Like ''[[The Book of One Thousand and One Nights|Arabian Nights]]'', it is a set of tales, within a [[frame story]]. It concerns an encounter between King [[Vikramāditya]] and a [[Vetala]], an early [[mythical creature]] resembling a [[vampire]].
-and he had a [[Byron]]ic love of shocking people, of telling tales against himself that had no foundation in fact." [[Ouida]] reported that "Men at the FO [Foreign Office]... used to hint dark horrors about Burton, and certainly justly or unjustly he was disliked, feared and suspected... not for what he had done, but for what he was believed capable of doing..." Whatever the truth of the many allegations made against him, Burton's interests and outspoken nature ensured that he was always a controversial character in his lifetime.+
-===The Kama Shastra Society===+
-:''[[The Kama Shastra Society]]''+
-Burton had long had an interest in sexuality and erotic literature. However, the Obscene Publications Act of 1857 had resulted in many jail sentences for publishers, with prosecutions being brought by the Society for the Suppression of Vice (Burton referred to the society and those who shared its views as ''[[Mrs Grundy]]''). A way around this was the private circulation of books amongst the members of a society. For this reason Burton, together with [[Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot]], created the Kama Shastra Society to print and circulate books that would be illegal to publish in public.+
-One of the most celebrated of all his books is his translation of the ''The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night'' (more commonly known in English as ''[[The Book of One Thousand and One Nights|The Arabian Nights]]'' because of [[Andrew Lang]]'s abridged collection) in [[List of stories within The Book of One Thousand and One Nights|ten volumes]], (1885) with six further volumes being added later. The volumes were printed by the Kama Shashtra Society in a subscribers-only edition of one thousand with a guarantee that there would never be a larger printing of the books in this form. The stories collected were often sexual in content and were considered [[pornography]] at the time of publication. In particular, the ''Terminal Essay'' of the ''Nights'' was one of the first English language texts to dare address the practice of [[pederasty]] which he postulated was prevalent in an area of the southern latitudes named by him the "[[Sotadic zone]]." Rumors about Burton’s own sexuality were already circulating and were further incited by this work.+According to [[Isabel Burton]], the ''Baital Pachisi'' "is the germ which culminated in the ''[[The Book of One Thousand and One Nights|Arabian Nights]]'', and which inspired the "''[[Golden Ass]]''" of [[Apuleius]], [[Boccacio]]'s "''[[The Decameron|Decamerone]],''" the "''[[Pentamerone]],''" and all that class of [[facetious]] fictitious literature".
- +
-Perhaps Burton's best-known book is his translation of ''[[Kama Sutra|The Kama Sutra]]''. In fact, it is not really true that he was the translator since the original manuscript was in ancient [[Sanskrit]] which he could not read. However, he collaborated with [[Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot]] on the work and provided translations from other manuscripts of later translations. The Kama Shashtra Society first printed the book in 1883 and numerous editions of the Burton translation are in print to this day.+
- +
-His English translation from a French edition of the Arabic erotic guide ''[[The Perfumed Garden]]'' was printed as ''The Perfumed Garden of the Cheikh Nefzaoui: A Manual of Arabian Erotology'' (1886). After Richard's death [[Isabel Burton|Isabel]] burnt many of his papers, including a manuscript of a subsequent translation, ''The Scented Garden'', containing the final chapter of the work, on [[pederasty]]. It is interesting to note that Burton all along intended for this translation to be published after his death, to provide a competence for his widow, and also, as a final gesture of defiance against Victorian society.+
 +==The Kama Shastra Society==
 +:''[[The Kama Shastra Society]]''
 +[[Burton]] had long had an interest in [[sexuality]] and [[erotic literature]]. However, the [[Obscene Publications Act of 1857]] had resulted in many jail sentences for publishers, with prosecutions being brought by the [[Society for the Suppression of Vice]] (Burton referred to the society and those who shared its views as ''[[Mrs Grundy]]''). A way around this was the [[private press|private circulation of books amongst the members of a society]]. For this reason Burton, together with [[Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot]], created the Kama Shastra Society to print and circulate books that would be illegal to publish in public.
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British erotica, Scandals in the life of Richard Burton, Baital Pachisi

Sir Richard Francis Burton (19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a British explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, ethnologist, linguist, poet, hypnotist, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia and Africa as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages.

Burton's best-known achievements include traveling in disguise to Mecca, making an unexpurgated translation of The Book of One Thousand Nights and A Night (the collection is more commonly called The Arabian Nights in English because of Andrew Lang's abridgment) and the Kama Sutra.

Contents

Works

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Kama Sutra, Baital Pachisi, The Perfumed Garden

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night

One of the most celebrated of all his books is his translation of the The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night (more commonly known in English as The Arabian Nights because of Andrew Lang's abridged collection) in ten volumes, (1885) with six further volumes being added later. The volumes were printed by the Kama Shashtra Society in a subscribers-only edition of one thousand with a guarantee that there would never be a larger printing of the books in this form. The stories collected were often sexual in content and were considered pornography at the time of publication. In particular, the Terminal Essay of the Nights was one of the first English language texts to dare address the practice of pederasty which he postulated was prevalent in an area of the southern latitudes named by him the "Sotadic zone." Rumors about Burton’s own sexuality were already circulating and were further incited by this work.

Kama Sutra

Perhaps Burton's best-known book is his translation of The Kama Sutra. In fact, it is not really true that he was the translator since the original manuscript was in ancient Sanskrit which he could not read. However, he collaborated with Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot on the work and provided translations from other manuscripts of later translations. The Kama Shashtra Society first printed the book in 1883 and numerous editions of the Burton translation are in print to this day.

The Perfumed Garden

His English translation from a French edition of the Arabic erotic guide The Perfumed Garden was printed as The Perfumed Garden of the Cheikh Nefzaoui: A Manual of Arabian Erotology (1886). After Richard's death Isabel burnt many of his papers, including a manuscript of a subsequent translation, The Scented Garden, containing the final chapter of the work, on pederasty. It is interesting to note that Burton all along intended for this translation to be published after his death, to provide a competence for his widow, and also, as a final gesture of defiance against Victorian society.

Baital Pachisi

Baital Pachisi or Vetala Panchvimshati ("Twenty five tales of Baital") or Vikram and The Vampire is a collection of tales and legends from India. It was originally written in Sanskrit. Like Arabian Nights, it is a set of tales, within a frame story. It concerns an encounter between King Vikramāditya and a Vetala, an early mythical creature resembling a vampire.

According to Isabel Burton, the Baital Pachisi "is the germ which culminated in the Arabian Nights, and which inspired the "Golden Ass" of Apuleius, Boccacio's "Decamerone," the "Pentamerone," and all that class of facetious fictitious literature".

The Kama Shastra Society

The Kama Shastra Society

Burton had long had an interest in sexuality and erotic literature. However, the Obscene Publications Act of 1857 had resulted in many jail sentences for publishers, with prosecutions being brought by the Society for the Suppression of Vice (Burton referred to the society and those who shared its views as Mrs Grundy). A way around this was the private circulation of books amongst the members of a society. For this reason Burton, together with Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot, created the Kama Shastra Society to print and circulate books that would be illegal to publish in public.



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