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Revision as of 01:28, 23 March 2008 by Matthead (talk | contribs) (Undid revision 200054875 by Tulkolahten (talk))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Alois Musil (June 30, 1868 in Rychtářov near Wischau (Vyškov) - April 12, 1944 in Otryby near Böhmisch Sternberg (Český Šternberk)) was a Bohemian explorer, orientalist and writer.
Musil was born in the family of a poor farmer. The grand-cousin of Robert Musil studied to become priest, and finished the studies in 1895. His unhealthy lifestyle caused him a serious lung disease. Musil took up bible study in a newly opened religious institute in Jerusalem but left in disappointment after 14 months. He travelled to Beirut and other places of the Arab world. Musil kept on coming back to the Arab world until 1917, and collected a huge body of scientific material. Among his discoveries was the desert castle Qasr Amra (8th century), with its figural Islamic paintings.
Between his trips, Musil kept working on his publications, lectured. In 1902 he became professor of theology at the university in Olmütz (Olomouc), in 1909 professor of theology at University of Vienna. In addition to modern and classical languages he mastered 35 dialects of Arabic.
During World War I, he was sent by the Austrian Empire to the Middle East to eliminate English attempts to instigate a uprising against Ottoman Empire. Thus he was an opponent to T. E. Lawrence. After the war he became professor at the Czech Charles University in Prague (1920), despite opposing voices resenting his close ties with the fallen monarchy. He helped to establish the Oriental Institute of Academy of Sciences in Prague (Orientální ústav Akademie Věd, in 1927).
Cooperation with American industrialist Ch. R. Crane helped him to publish his works in English (1922-23). In addition to scientific work and popular travel books he published 21 novels for the youth.
Musil worked for the Charles University until 1938, but was active until the very end of his life (he died due to kidney dysfunction joined by a lung disease).