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MR. MURTHWAITE in The Moonstone , (Wilkie Collins) is said to be based on Sir Richard Francis Burton.
I just ordered the book The Collector Of Worlds by Iliya Troyanov reviewed in the The Sunday Book Review (Ben Macintyre). I am sure Burton's first hand accounts are the best reads- and there are many.
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"the celebrated Indian traveller, Mr. Murthwaite, who, at risk of his life, had penetrated in disguise where no European had ever set foot before"
(from Chapter X of The Moonstone)
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Sir Richard
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...and there are many.
Just a small glimpse of Burton's published works. His catalog is astonishing. See it all on the definitive Burton site linked at the beginning of this post.
Just a small glimpse of Burton's published works. His catalog is astonishing. See it all on the definitive Burton site linked at the beginning of this post.
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"All Faith is false, All Faith is true:
Truth is the shattered mirror strown
In myriad bits; while each believes
His little bit the whole to own."
Sir Richard