Winged Bull

In 1840, twenty-two year old Henry Layard left England on horseback without knowing a word of Arabic or Farsi and set off for the Middle East. Layard would make some of the most important archaeology discoveries ever, uncovering the ruins of Nineveh in 1845 as well as the lost Assyrian capital, Ashur, all while narrowly escaping death, combatting murderous thieves, socializing with Polish revolutionaries, and riding alongside Bakhtiari warriors in Persia. While his discoveries (and adventures) were legendary in their own right, Layard then returned to England to write bestselling books of his travels, successfully run for office, and become a British diplomat credited with saving scores of Yezidi refugees and preserving international relations in the face of war. Real-life Indiana Jones meets Lawrence of Arabia in Winged Bull, the first biography in half a century to tell the story of Henry Layard and his daring adventures as a Victorian explorer as well as his incredible achievements as a politician, diplomat, and historian. While you may not have heard of Layard, you may well have seen the winged bulls, lions, and artwork he gathered on his travels that now make up permanent collections in the British Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Britain's National Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others. Layard may have also been the first "archeologist with a conscience." While other well-known explorers either stole or bribed their way into priceless riches, Layard sought formal permission from local authorities. Further than that, his journals and books -including the best-selling Nineveh and It's Remains, which remains a seminal text on the region -paint the picture of a deeply caring adventurer for whom the land and the culture of its peoples were to be respected and revered. Layard was as tireless as he was prolific, leaving a far-reaching and impactful legacy not only in the archeological discoveries he made, but the work he did to preserve cultures and nations alike. Using Layard's own journals as well as archival materials and never-before-published documents, author Jeff Pearce captures the life of a man who was never at rest, whether narrowly escaping disaster abroad, dining with local tribal rulers, excavating ancient sites, or standing up for the downtrodden as a British MP. Discover the life of Henry Layard in this gripping adventure tale of exotic discoveries, swashbuckling exploits, and political intrigue.