Bábí-Bahá’í Scripture and Belief in E. G. Browne’s A Year Amongst the Persians

Abstract

E. G. Browne's A Year Amongst the Persians has long been hailed as a classic in nineteenth century travel literature. Leaving his native England in 1887, Browne spent a year traveling in Iran, meeting diverse peoples in cities and towns including Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, and Kirman. While considerable scholarly attention has been paid to Browne himself within the context of this book and his travels, less research has been done on the Bábís and Bahá'ís themselves whom Browne met, and the information this text gives us about the nature of Bábí-Bahá'í belief. What were the Bábís and Bahá'ís that Browne met reading? What was their self-understanding of their faith? Browne's narrative provides a unique perspective and insight regarding these questions.