{"product_id":"the-cosmography-and-geography","title":"The Cosmography and Geography","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-information\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBook information\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMain subject:\u003c\/strong\u003e African history: pre-colonial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenre \/ subject:\u003c\/strong\u003e Classic travel writing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leo Africanus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAudience:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adults\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the book\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cosmography and Geography\u003c\/strong\u003e by Leo Africanus is a travel book for adult readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first new translation in over 400 years of one of the great works of the Renaissance: an African diplomat's guide to Africa In 1518, al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan, a Moroccan diplomat, was seized by pirates while travelling in the Mediterranean. Brought before Pope Leo X, he was persuaded to convert to Christianity, in the process taking the name Johannes Leo Africanus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcclaimed in the papal court for his learning, Leo would in time write his masterpiece, The Cosmography and the Geography of Africa. The Cosmography was the first book about Africa, and the first book written by a modern African, to reach print. It would remain central to the European understanding of Africa for over 300 years, with its descriptions of lands, cities and peoples giving a singular vision of the vast continent: its urban bustle and rural desolation, its culture, commerce and warfare, its magical herbs and strange animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery \u0026amp; pickup:\u003c\/strong\u003e Available from Whimsy and Wonder with New Zealand delivery or Christchurch pickup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43891423412260,"sku":"B9780241543931","price":32.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0771\/2253\/5460\/files\/penguin-random-house-the-cosmography-and-geography-book.jpg?v=1785744728","url":"https:\/\/whimsyandwonder.co.nz\/products\/the-cosmography-and-geography","provider":"Whimsy \u0026 Wonder","version":"1.0","type":"link"}