In the first decades of the 20th Century, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was known as the leading exponent of the Bahá'í Teachings, renowned as a champion of social justice and an ambassador for international peace. Freed after more than five decades of exile and imprisonment, Abdu'l Bahá embarked on three years of historic travels to Egypt, Europe, Great Britain, and the United States of America.

For the American and final European stages of his momentous journey, 'Abdu'l Bahá was accompanied everywhere by Mirzá Mahmud Zarqání, who made extensive notes not only of His many public talks and conversations with individuals, but also of the new sights and experiences they found, as well as the daily routines of eating, writing letters and traveling. The result was a unique diary regarded as a reliable account of 'Abdu'l Bahá's travels in the West and an authentic record of his utterances, whether in the form of formal talks, table talks, or oral statements.

While the first volume of Mahmúd's Diary - published in translation by George Ronald in 1998 - covered 'Abdu'l-Bahá's historic travels in North America, a second volume, untranslated until now, continues the story, chronicling 'Abdu'l Bahá's return to Europe.

In this episode of Great Reads: The George Ronald Podcast, its translator Adib Masumian introduces this momentous publication and the process of its translation.

'Abdu'l-Bahá in Europe 1912-1913: The Talks and Travels of the Master as Recorded by Mírzá Mahmúd Zarqání can be purchased here >

Presented and produced by Rob Weinberg

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