Edgar Knobloch is uniquely qualified for this work. A graduate in Law and Economics, he has studied the History of the Middle East and Arabic, speaks fluent Russian, dabbled in Turkish and Persian. In more than 30 journeys he has visited all Middle Eastern countries from Yemen to Xinjiang, China, as well as Russia. His works include, among others, The Art of Central Asia, Beyond the Oxus, Monuments of Central Asia, and Archaeology and Art of Afghanistan. He has also made translations of several medieval travelogues, including those of Carpini, Rubruck, and Clavijo. He lives in France.