The Orient Express

“A brilliant book of Eastern travel.” - The Atlantic Monthly “Picturesque and brilliant, entertaining as well as instructive.” - The Asiatic Review “Keen observation and the facile pen, writes in interesting fashion.” - Springfield City Library Bulletin As correspondent of the London “Times,” Arthur Moore made several journeys in Persia, Turkey and the Balkan states, sometimes actually having a part in stirring political events, as at the siege of Tabriz in 1909. In 1914 he published a most readable book on these travels, “The Orient Express.” This book is not, as might be expected from the inadequate title, merely a narrative of travel in the regions of the Near East traversed by this famous transcontinental express. It is a first-hand study, based largely upon personal experiences and interviews with leading statesmen, of the political and social conditions of Persia of to-day. This occupies about half of the book. The rest is concerned with the rise of the Ottoman Constitution, the downfall of Sultan Abdul Hamid, and the Balkan War. The author goes very fully into the causes of the anarchy and national unrest which prevails in Persia, only slightly arrested by the new gendarmerie officered by Swedes, and is of opinion that the salvation of the country is impossible unless a general disarmament is carried out by the Government. He also maintains that it is the interference of foreign Powers which cripples the development of Persia, and that, in short, if Persia were left alone, she would fara da se. In telling the story of the rise of New Turkey, Mr. Moore is on well tilled ground, but we get fresh views and a broad outlook in his criticism of the policy of the Young Turkey party. His narrative is relieved with many anecdotes. One of the most characteristic is that of the shooting of Osman Hydet Pasha, Governor of Monastir. On learning the news of the outbreak of the revolution in this city, the Sultan sent a telegram which the Governor was instructed to read to the garrison. It began with threats, but wound up with promises and soft words. Unfortunately the Governor was shot before he got to the end of the telegram ! In dealing with the Balkan War, the author is fair and judicial, and does not hesitate to blame the intrigues which made the Bulgarian army (which did all the heavy work) the catspaw of the Balkan League. “ It was Bulgaria that broke the power of the Turks in Europe . . . The Bulgarian blood which ran like water in Thrace in those early all-important hours of the war was the tide upon which Greek and Serb have floated to a new heritage.” The author’s style is so picturesque and brilliant that even when he dives deeply into the tortuous and contradictory policy of the Balkan League, he is entertaining as well as instructive, a master of neat phrases, he sums up the racial situation pithily and convincingly. Mr. Moore's travels in Albania are vividly described, and are of some geographical value, and of special interest after the birth of the newest of the Balkan States. Contents I. THE SIEGE OF TABRIZ II. THE LAST SORTIE III. THE DEATH OF ARSHAD-ED-DOWLEH IV. PHILOSOPHY IN ADVERSITY V. SOHRAB ON GENIUS VI. SOME MARCHING MEMORIES VII. FROM TEHRAN TO KASHAN VIII. FROM KASHAN TO ISFAHAN IX. BRITISH INTERESTS AT ISFAHAN X. A NIGHT ADVENTURE AT KUMISHA XI. AT THE TOMB OF CYRUS XII. A TALK WITH ALEXANDER THE GREAT XIII. THE PROBLEM OF SHIRAZ XIV. THE TRIBES AND THE ROADS XV. BRITISH INTERESTS IN SOUTHERN PERSIA XVI. THE DECAY OF PERSIA XVII. THE VALUE OF THE MEJLISS XVIII. A LOOK BEFORE AND AFTER XIX. THE DARK AGES IN MACEDONIA XX. THE MILLENNIUM XXI. THE YOUNG TURKS XXII. HILMI PASHA XXIII. THE HEART OF ALBANIA XXIV. THE MIRDITE CLAN XXV. THE SONS OF THE EAGLE XXVI. ATHENS REVISITED XXVII. WHO CAUSED THE TURKISH DISASTERS? XXVIII. SIC VOS NON VOBIS XXIX. A LITTLE MAGIC