Flora fauna and famine in thirteenthcentury EgyptA Physician on the Nile begins as a description of everyday life in Egypt at the turn of the sevenththirteenth century before becoming a harrowing account of famine and pestilence. Written by the polymath and physician Abd alLaif alBaghdadi and intended for the Abbasid caliph alNair the first part of the book offers detailed descriptions of Egypts geography plants animals and local cuisine including a recipe for a giant picnic pie made with three entire roast lambs and dozens of chickens. Abd alLaifs text is also a pioneering work of ancient Egyptology with detailed observations of Pharaonic monuments sculptures and mummies. An early and ardent champion of archaeological conservation Abd alLaif condemns the vandalism wrought by tombrobbers and notes with distaste that Egyptian grocers price their goods with labels written on recycled mummywrappings.The books second half relates his horrific eyewitness account of the great famine that afflicted Egypt in the years 59759812001202. Abd alLaif was a keen observer of humanity and he offers vivid firsthand depictions of starvation cannibalism and a society in moral freefall.A Physician on the Nile contains great diversity in a small compass distinguished by the acute humane and evercurious mind of its author. It is rare to be able to hear the voice of such a man responding so directly to novelty beauty and tragedy.A bilingual ArabicEnglish edition.