Winged Bull: The Extraordinary Life of Henry Layard, the Adventurer Who Discovered the Lost City of Nineveh

by Jeff Pearce

In the summer of 1839, Henry Layard—just twenty-two years old—left England for eastern Europe and distant lands of the Ottoman Empire. He had never set foot in these regions before and wasn’t fluent in their languages. But he would experience one dramatic adventure after another, narrowly escaping death, combatting murderous thieves, riding with Bakhtiari warriors in Persia, and going on secret missions for the British embassy in Turkey. Layard made some of the most important archaeology discoveries ever, uncovering the ruins of Nineveh in 1845, as well as the lost Assyrian capital of Ashur. It’s thanks to his secret efforts that scores of Yezidi refugees were saved from persecution. When he returned to England, his personal account of his finds at Nineveh became a bestseller. He went on to witness the famous Charge of the Light Brigade, investigated the Indian Mutiny, and as Britain’s diplomat, he played a key role in saving Istanbul from destruction and looting during a war. Real-life Indiana Jones meets Lawrence of Arabia in Winged Bull, the first biography in half a century to tell the story of Henry Layard and his daring adventures. While you may not know his name, you likely have seen his work. The winged bulls, lions and priceless treasures of art and jewelry that he found make up permanent collections in institutions such as the British Museum, Britain’s National Gallery and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Layard may have also been the first “archaeologist with a conscience.” While better known figures either stole their discoveries or bribed their way into ruins, Layard sought formal permission from local authorities. His books and letters draw a picture of a man who deeply respected the lands and cultures he explored. Using Layard’s own letters as well as archival materials and never-before-published documents, author Jeff Pearce captures the life of a man who was never at rest, whether galloping off with tribal rulers or standing up for the poor and downtrodden as a British MP. Discover the life of Henry Layard in this gripping tale of astonishing discoveries, swashbuckling exploits, and political intrigue.

Genres: History, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 15, 2021

Reviews

[Phillip Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main takeaway I got from this book is how sectarian violence and bigotry was very prevalent in Layard's day and in the present day Middle East. Henry Layard was attacked in France by Catholics, saw Nestorian Christians savaged, Armenians attacked, and saw the British East India company disrespect Hindus and Muslims. Layard would have been shocked to see ISIS destroy priceless monuments and murder Yazidis and Kurds losing a hard fought battle due to Donald Trump's withdraw that left them to the mercy of Syria. Henry Layard was a man of principle who was ultimately brought down by the Establishment he criticized. The British empire was ruled by an upper crust that did not take kindly to someone that would dare point out their foibles.

[Shrike58 · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole, this was something of an impulse grab, mostly in regards to archeological history. However, the real thrust of this book is Henry Layard's career as a man of affairs, and what the parallels might be to the contemporary troubles in the Middle East. Another "so-so" read that flirts with being a throwaway.

[Lilisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating and interesting book on the life of Henry Layard (1817-1894), who among other things discovered the lost city of Nineveh. He was an art historian, daring adventurer, traveler, politician and diplomat. I sought out this book because I read the fantastic There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (a 5-star read!), in which one of the characters is obsessed with the lost city of Nineveh. I enjoyed reading about the life of Henry Layard - he was an incredible adventurer - a man before his time. He traveled extensively and enjoyed learning and living among the locals wherever he went. He appreciated and respected local cultures, languages and local customs and did as much as he could to be part of the communities as much as he could, being a foreigner. It was interesting to learn about his later years where he put his travel experience and significant network of relationships build over time to diplomatic and political use. This book could have been heavy and pedantic, but it was absolutely not so. The writing was fluid, kept my interest, and painted a great picture of the man Henry Layard was during the 1800s. Alongside Henry were showcased the many cultures he encountered and the lively dance of political and powerplays that are as ancient as history and that will always continue to occur as long as humans inhabitant the earth. I enjoyed the book a lot - 4 stars for the book.

[Woolfhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well told. I particularly appreciated the way Pearce framed the history he was relating with recent events in the Middle East. Also had completely forgotten that Layard was friends with William Gregory and that my initial encounter with him was in Lady Augusta Gregory’s diaries.

[L-ssar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinante personaje. Es una pena que en el libro no se hable más de arqueología, pero merece la pena. Me recuerda mucho a Nopcsa.