Literary mentions during the Ministry of the Báb

For mentions in the press during this time period, see Press coverage during the Ministry of the Báb.

From 1851 written accounts began to appear in books, papers and other written media authored by those who heard about or researched the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths. Many accounts have been accounted for in bibliographies by Momen, MacEoin and Collins, but more exist.

1851: Dr. Rev. Austin H. Wright

It was originally read at a meeting about May 21 and then published in an article in The Literary World of June 14, 1851, as a letter dated Feb 10, 1851 by Dr. Rev. Austin H. Wright to the American Oriental Society. It was subsequently also published in a newspaper June 26, 1851, and was published in a German newspaper in 1851, translated by his superior, Rev. Justin Perkins dated late March. The German cite was noted among scholars for some time via it’s name “Zeitshrift der Deutschen Morgenland, 'Gesellschaft', vol v “ (see below.) Wright followed up with another paper "A short chapter in the history of Bâbeeism in Persia" to the American Oriental Society in May 1853 (but it was published out of the normal order of work) and noted in 1854 under "Select minutes of meeting of the society" in the Journal of the American Oriental Society: xxiv.

According to Momen, Wright was the first person to write a paper giving an account on the Bábí Faith, and died in Urumiah, Persia, January 14, 1865 - See Momen, Moojan (1981). The Babi and Baha'i Religions, 1844-1944: Some Contemporary Western Accounts, pp. 10, 73, 528.

The editor and proprietor of the “Green Mountain Freeman” was Daniel Pierce Thompson who was Vermont Secretary of State at this time. It is also of some note than another Montpelier newspaper had published an echo of the first newspaper story related to Bábí history - the so called "Mahomedan Schism", Feb 19, 1846, though no comment about that is made here.

An almost identical version was later published without credit as "Bab - A Curious History”, The Daily Phoenix (Columbia, South Carolina). 16 Jun 1865. p. 1, 10 days short of 14 years later, with a brief difference on in the editorial introduction and little else different.

Note Momen had concluded that as the original was not published by the AOS and just the one in German was available. It has been found.

1851-1852: Captain Alfred von Goumoens

Alfred von Goumoens was an Austrian captain who served in Persia arriving in 1851 with Dr. Polack. He wrote three letters that were published in the Oesterreichischer Soldatenfruend - in 1851, a two part letter in October 1852, and In 1852 he witnessed the events that unfolded after the attack on Naser al-Din Shah by Bábís. See On the Attempt on the life of the Shah. He was actually from Switzerland.

• The first letter recounts traveling to Persia… von Goumoens, Alfred (February 24, 1852). "Reise nach Persien". Oesterreichischer Soldatenfreund - Zeitschrift für militärische Interessen (in German). 5 (24): 99–101. Retrieved Jul 28, 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

• The second letter recounts the assassination attempt on the life of the Shah written August 20, 1852, but does not mention the Babis:

von Goumoens, Alfred (7 October 1852). "Aus Persien". Oesterreichischer Soldatenfreund - Zeitschrift für militärische Interessen (in German). 5 (121): 505–506. Retrieved Jul 4, 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

and continued at von Goumoens, Alfred (9 October 1852). "Aus Persien". Oesterreichischer Soldatenfreund - Zeitschrift für militärische Interessen (in German). 5 (122): 509–510. Retrieved Jul 4, 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

• the last letter written 29 August 1852 and details the horrific slaughter that began to unfold: von Goumoens, Alfred (12 October 1852). "Aus Persien". Oesterreichischer Soldatenfreund - Zeitschrift für militärische Interessen (in German). 5 (123): 513. Retrieved Jul 4, 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

A translation of some of the last was included in a footnote of the Dawnbreakers. Another translation into Persian was done at ناصرالدین شاه و شاهدِ اروپائیِ قتلِ عامِ بابی ها در تابستانِ ۱۸۵۲ میلادی در بازارِ تهران, by بیژن معصومیان, Jun 19, 2017 and another was posted at [1].

1854: Dawnings of light in the East

Henry Aaron Stern (1820–1885) wrote a book that mentions "Baba, the Persian socialist" for a couple pages. Momen mentions him in Contemporary Western Accounts pp. 14–15.

1856: Glimpses of Life and Manners in Modern Persia

This was published in London in 1856 by Mary Sheil and Sir Justin Sheil and on pp. 176–81, 273-82 made mention] of events in 1849-1852. Momen covers the text in Contemporary Western Accounts pp. 5, 8, 15.

1861: Julius Petermann's Reisen im Orient

Momen notes (1981, p. 180) Julius Heinrich Petermann([2]) was in Baghdad 1854–5 and was a professor of oriental literature in Berlin. In 1861 his work Reisen im Orient published an article "Achtzehntes Kapital/Aufenthalt in Bagdad" - which mentions Bábís briefly in one paragraph. Momen comments that he mentioned Tahirih in Baghdad and that his guide reported "they have a few holy writings, and he himself has seen one such with them; they do not betray one another, do not tell lies…." but he does not mention hearing of Baha'u'llah.

Further reading

• Geoffrey Nash; Geoffrey P. Nash (1 July 2011). Travellers to the Middle East from Burckhardt to Thesiger: An Anthology. Anthem Press. ISBN 978-0-85728-878-3.

External links

• 19th Century Tributes to the Bahá’ís