The Oriental Biographical Dictionary

Lives that shaped empires and ideas.The Oriental Biographical Dictionary, compiled by Thomas William Beale, is a vital oriental biography collection and an indispensable historical reference book from the nineteenth century. A rare reference for readers. This biographical dictionary anthology gathers concise, lucid entries on notable Asian figures, from eastern scholars’ lives and learned poets to the terse profiles of influential rulers. Rather than grand narrative, Beale’s method gives dated, verifiable sketches that map networks of learning, patronage and power across nineteenth-century Asia and Middle Eastern history. Entries are compact but context-rich, making it straightforward to follow intellectual lineages and political connections. For casual readers the volume offers entry points into unfamiliar lives and legacies; for researchers it functions as an academic research resource and a helpful starting point for genealogy and ancestry studies.Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions. Restored for today’s and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector’s item and a cultural treasure. As a representative of classical reference works, this edition preserves the direct voice of earlier scholarship while benefiting from careful modern preparation, making Thomas William Beale’s entries easy to consult and compare. Librarians, historians and collectors will value its combination of breadth and reliability; readers assembling a library of primary-era compendia will find it both useful and rewarding. Students of literature, Islamic studies and comparative historians will use the dictionary as a reliable cross-reference, while antiquarian collectors recognise its place among classical reference works. Beale’s careful compiling reflects nineteenth-century priorities, offering modern readers a window into past practices of scholarship and the recording of reputations. The book bridges past and present: it supports quick look-ups and suggests avenues for deeper archival investigation, and it rewards repeated consultation as one traces the threads that connect scholars, courts and communities across regions. For those who prize both substance and provenance, The Oriental Biographical Dictionary is an essential restoration of an enduring compendium.