Sketches of Central Asia (1868) Additional chapters on my travels, adventures, and on the ethnology of Central Asia

"Sketches of Central Asia" by Ármin Vámbéry is a captivating travelogue from the 1800s that transports readers to the heart of Turkestan, where the author shares his personal journey through a collection of narrative sketches, offering a glimpse into a world vastly different from Europe, with stories of unique personalities, the author vividly depicts the lives and customs of Central Asian people, especially the sometimes challenging life of the dervishes whose strange lifestyles, customs, and beliefs offer a window into understanding the cultural and societal norms of the time, and the differences of Eastern versus Western societies.