Subject
British -- Europe -- History -- 19th century Books
Best books
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Rambles in Germany and Italy in 1840, 1842, and 1843, vol. 2 of 2
"Rambles in Germany and Italy in 1840, 1842, and 1843, vol. 2 of 2" by Mary Shelley is a travel narrative published in 1844. This final published work chronicles Shelley's European journeys with her son and his friends, revisiting Italy where she had lived with her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley. The narrative blends personal pilgrimage with political commentary, challenging conventions by advocating for Italian independence and unification. Shelley champions revolutionary exiles and criticizes Austrian, French, and Church domination, presenting Italy through an explicitly political lens uncommon for women writers of her era.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Rambles in Germany and Italy in 1840, 1842, and 1843, vol. 1 of 2
"Rambles in Germany and Italy in 1840, 1842, and 1843, vol. 1 of 2" by Mary Shelley is a travel narrative published in 1844. This work chronicles Shelley's journeys through Europe with her son and his university friends, returning to Italy where she had lived with her late husband and lost two children. More than a typical travelogue, Shelley frames her account as a political commentary, advocating for Italian independence and challenging conventions against women writing about politics. The book emerged from her involvement with Italian revolutionary exiles in Paris.
Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka) Jerome
Diary of a Pilgrimage
"Diary of a Pilgrimage" by Jerome K. Jerome is a humorous travel narrative written during the late 19th century. The work captures the author’s journey to Ober-Ammergau, Germany, specifically to see the famed Passion Play, while exploring the whimsical thoughts and observations of the protagonist, who appears to act as a proxy for Jerome himself. The opening of the narrative introduces the protagonist's friend, B., who invites him to attend the play, leading to amusing exchanges about the nature of travel, the necessary preparations, and superstitions regarding the day they choose to embark. The main character is motivated by a desire for adventure and fraught with comedic anxieties about what to bring on the trip. There are humorous discussions about essential items for the journey and the absurdity of the various recommendations he receives, revealing both a satirical view of the civilized traveller’s behavior and a light-hearted exploration of the protagonist’s ambitions to experience life beyond his familiar surroundings.
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