Learning French at school was a metaphorical (or not, for all you readers reppin’ the male species) ball-ache, wasn’t it? Well how about knowing over 40 languages? This is one of Richard Francis Burton’s many, many, many merits. Hailed as one of Britain’s most respected and prolific explorers, Burton (pictured), born in 1821, teamed up with the Royal Geographical Society in an expedition that led to the true source of the Nile, as well as living in disguise for a year and completing the Haj from Suez to Mecca. Oh, he also published the Karma Sutra in a then-prudish Britain. A life so heavy in adventures deserves to be told – and Giles Abbott is doing the honours with his Tongues of Flame tour, which stops by the cosy Briton’s Protection on Friday 7 November. Prepare for tales of the unexpected, strange and obscure.

Fri 7 Nov, The Briton’s Protection Pub, 50 Great Bridgewater Street, M1 5LE, Tel: 0161 236 5895, 8pm, £4/£6 (tickets on the door), www.gilesabbott.com

Fri 7 Nov
Words:
Edwina Chan
Published on:
Mon 3 Nov 2014