Honoring Patrick O’Brian’s centenary; a collection of his favorite travel pieces; replete with perils; discomforts; and exotic pleasures. Never previously published in this country; A Book of Voyages presents writings by various travelers; annotated and introduced by Patrick O’Brian. Most are taken from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; O’Brian felt that; unlike Elizabethan or Victorian accounts; these writings were relatively unknown in our time. On her journey through the Crimea; Lady Craven witnesses barbaric entertainments in the court of the Tartar Khan. John Bell tells us of his day’s hunting with the Manchu emperor in 1721 outside Peking. An English woman in Madras gives us a detailed description of the extraordinary costume and body decoration of a high-born Indian woman; wife of a nabob. These and other selections are glimpses of a world; now gone forever; that few readers would ever see for themselves. They are also quite possibly the inspiration for the travels and adventures of O’Brian’s own fictional heroes Captain Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.
#450743 in Books 1999-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.48 x 6.54 x 9.57l; #File Name: 0393047458512 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Highly readable; but bear in mind that for some people; the "death of God" was cause for celebration.By NoominA smart reviewer of this book in an academic journal points out that one can find many contrary cases to the emphasis on the regret and melancholy that Wilson sees as the dominant response to the waning of the sea of faith. I am glad to bear that in mind as I read. But Wilson has provided a readable book; packed with interesting tidbits--good for a general audience.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A.N. WilsonBy parjdaThis book gave me a perspective on religious changes in the Victorian era. The book reads like a text book. For me tough; this book was valuable. The downside was the language which contains a lot archaic English which I was not familiar. Perhaps if I was a theologian or Literature grad; I might have been able to understand some of the language quicker. Maybe it was written for serious scholars on the subject. However; I found this book thought provoking and interesting. I got through it; and felt it was worth the effort. I learned from this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy NancyArrived in excellent condition. I am very pleased with this book.
