Po blizom Orijentu – putne crtice iz Egipta, Palestine, Sirije i Cipra

Around the Near East – Travelogues from Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Cyprus *by Dr. Ante Messner-Sporšić (1935) is an interesting Croatian travelogue from the interwar period.

The author, a professor and travel writer, brings personal impressions and descriptions from his travels in the Middle East. He visits classic destinations: the pyramids and Cairo in Egypt, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other holy places in Palestine, Damascus and other Syrian cities, and the island of Cyprus. The book is written in a lively, accessible style – it combines historical and biblical data, descriptions of landscapes, monuments, customs and encounters with the local population.

Messner-Sporšić writes with curiosity and sympathy for the Eastern world, but also with the eyes of a European intellectual. The descriptions of the contrast between the ancient past and the reality of the time under the British and French mandates are particularly impressive. The book also contains several illustrations/photographs.

Published in 1935, this is a classic edition of Croatian travel literature of the 20th century. The author is also known for other travel books (Across Scandinavia, Across Italy and France, From Bucharest to Ankara, etc.).

The 1935 edition is relatively rare on the antiquarian book market. Copies in good condition are sought after by collectors of Croatian travel and travel literature, especially those who collect interwar editions. The book provides valuable insight into the perception of the Middle East in Croatian literature before World War II.

An excellent choice for lovers of old travel books, the Middle East, biblical history, and Croatian antiquarian books. A readable, informative, and atmospheric read that transports you to the world of pyramids, bazaars, and holy places in the 1930s.