(* IslamicKnowledge.net :: Books :: One Thousand Roads to Mecca *)

Since its inception in the seventh century, the pilgrimage to Mecca, or the Hajj, has been the central theme in a large body of Islamic travel Literature. Beginning with the European Renaissance, it has also been the subject for a handful of adventurous writers from the West who, through conversion or connivance, managed to slip inside the walls of a city forbidden to non-Muslims. One Thousand Roads to Mecca collects significant works by observant travel writers from the East and West over the last ten centuries. These two very different literary traditions from distinct sides of a spirited conversation in which Mecca is the common destination and Islam the common subject of inquiry.

"A tradition of Muslim writing aimed at the insiders and out."

-THE BOSTON GLOBE

"Wolfe does an exemplary job of detailing the ceremonies performed at Mecca and the reasons behind them. The chosen excerpts give the readers a sense of how the hajj has changed over time as well as how constant the central ceremonies have remained. Highly recommended."

-LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)

"Serves as an excellent introduction to a religion, people, culture and philosophy."

-SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL

Michael Wolfe is the author of The Hadj: An American's Pilgrimage to Mecca, as well as a number of other books of poetry, fiction, and travel writing. He is also the publisher of Tombouctou Books.

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