"In 1807 the poet, reviewer and translator Robert Southey published a pseudonymous account of a journey made through England by a fictitious Spanish tourist, 'Don Manuel Alvarez Espriella'. Letters from England (1807) relates Espriella's travels from hisarrival in Falmouth, through the West Country to London, the Midlands, Lake District, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and back to Cornwall again for the voyage home. On his journey Espriella comments on every aspect of British society, from fashions and manners, to political and religious beliefs. Letters from England blurs the boundaries of fact and fiction to produce a complex work of literary merit - there is no other prose work of its kind during the Romantic period. Southey's commentary is shrewd and lively, and provides the reader with a close-up view of early nineteenth-century culture and society. Among the topics covered are: provincial customs; political intrigues; theatre and sports; religious sects; poverty and criminality in urban centres; scientific and medical progress; Georgian London; social change; and the state of the army and navy. The edition will be of interest to all scholars of Romantic literature and culture" --
In 1807 Robert Southey published a pseudonymous account of a journey made through England by a fictitious Spanish tourist, Don Manuel Alvarez Espriella. Letters from England (1807) relates Espriellas travels. On his journey Espriella comments on every aspect of British society, from fashions and manners, to political and religious beliefs.
Recenzijos
Carol Boltons careful situating of the Letters in the literary, social, political and religious context of Southeys time is a work of exemplary critical scholarship. It is also a welcome feat of rehabilitating a much undervalued text.
- Stuart Andrews, New Books Online
"Boltons edition allows us to explore this complex and rewarding work with the help of a full editorial apparatus, richly detailed introduction, and extensive annotations. (...) This work is another outstanding product of the ongoing revival in Southey studies, to which Bolton has already made several important editorial and critical contributions. Hers is set to be the edition of Southeys Letters for the foreseeable future. Boltons abundant endnotes provide an indispensable tool for navigating this multifaceted work."
- Diego Saglia, Universitą di Parma
Dedication; Acknowledgements; Robert Southey Chronology; Introduction;
Preface; Translator's Preface; Table of Contents: Letters; Letters from
England, Volume I; Letters from England, Volume II; Letters from England,
Volume III; Editorial Notes; Appendix A- Description of Manuscript; Appendix
B- Commonplace Book Extract
Carol Bolton is Programme Director in the Department of English, Drama and Publishing at Loughborough University, United Kingdom
