Sir Aurel Stein: A Biography

by Jeannette Mirsky

An extraordinary man, who advanced human knowledge on many fronts, Sir Aurel Stein (1862-1943) pursued dramatic adventure with scientific purpose. Jeannette Mirsky has drawn from Stein's voluminous outpouring of books and articles as well as from his letters and unpublished archival materials to produce a lively and definitive biography of this archaeological explorer, geographer, historical topographer, and linguist."[Mirsky] has digested the correspondence, and she quotes so skillfully that her book will save many people the trouble of reading Stein's own exhaustive and exhausting volumes. Definitive."€”Larry McMurtry, Washington Post"A first-rate and unique biography of one of the more significant explorers of Central Asia and the Indo-Iranian borderlands. . . . Mirsky has recreated not only the life of an intrepid explorer but the spirit of the times."€”Choice"Mirsky has performed a signal service in distilling the life, travels, a

Genres: Biography, History

580 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1977

About the author

Jeannette Mirsky Ginsburg was an American author who was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1947 for her biographical writings on the history of exploration.

Reviews

[Mark Havenhand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well its a fascinating subject - just as well because the book digs into great detail of the bureaucratic wranglings he needed to finance his trips. Endless letters home are mentioned..The sketch maps are appalling, there is also a lack of context for his finds..So yes its the full story and the man comes across as tough, highly educated and likeable - the right character for the job. The removal of artifacts reads like pillage to the modern mind. For those without some prior knowledge of the area it may be heavy going. Some of his photographs would have been nice - there is constant reference to his camera!

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an extraordinary man! This huge biography covers every part of his life, his fascinating journeys of exploration, archaeology, geographical surveying, historical research and as importantly his magnificent determination to undertake these extremely demanding journeys lasting years against all the odds. While Abundant quotes from his private letters show the decency and humility of the man as well as his great capacity for friendship
It only lacks lots of maps to follow in his footsteps, to be a great book.
Well worth reading!

[DoctorM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just re-read Primo Levi's "Light Garden of the Angel King"--- his account of travel in Afghanistan with Bruce Chatwin in 1970, and there's a lovely moment where Levi stands at Sir Aurel Stein's grave just outside the city. I have no idea whether the gravestone is still there after 30 years of war, but I would love to visit...

Stein was an explorer/archaeologist of a type long vanished--- and it's our loss. Budapest-born, Anglophile, classicist, gentleman, fine writer, ruthless expedition leader, precise and painstaking scholar--- very much a hero of mine.

And Mirsky's "Sir Aurel Stein" is a fine biography--- an account that will make you long to cross Chinese Turkestan and ride across Central Asia. Very much recommended.