Richard F. Burton

Biography

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821–1890) was an English explorer, linguist, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, and one of the most extraordinary figures of the Victorian era. Born in Torquay, Devon, Burton mastered at least twenty-nine languages (some sources claim over forty) and was one of the first Europeans to enter Mecca disguised as a Muslim pilgrim (1853) and to explore the African Great Lakes in search of the source of the Nile. His translation of The Arabian Nights (1885–1888) and the Kama Sutra (1883) introduced Eastern literature to English readers with an explicitness that scandalized Victorian society. Burton served in the British Indian Army, explored West Africa, traveled to Salt Lake City to study the Mormons, served as British consul in various posts, and produced dozens of books on his travels and translations. His interests ranged from fencing and alchemy to anthropology and erotica. Burton also translated works from Portuguese, Arabic, Sanskrit, and other languages, including Vikram and the Vampire, adapted from the Sanskrit Vetala tales.