Andrew Swinton - Voyage en Norwège, en Danemarck, et en Russie, Dans les années 1788, 89, 90 et 91 - 1801

SWINTON, ANDREW.
Voyage to Norway, Denmark, and Russia, in the years 1788, 89, 90 and 91. By Swinton; translated from English by P. F. Henry; followed by a letter from Richer-Sérisy on Russia. Volume One. Paris: Chez Arthus-Bertrand, 1801.

In-8. Contemporary half-leather with corners, smooth spine adorned with gold fillets and rosettes, title-piece in bright red morocco.

First French edition of this famous travel narrative through Northern Europe and the Russian Empire on the eve of the nineteenth century. The British officer and traveler Andrew Swinton provides here a vivid, curious, and detailed observation of Scandinavian and Russian manners under Catherine II’s reign. The translation is by the geographer Pierre-François Henry.

The bibliophilic interest of this French edition is greatly enhanced by the addition of the famous Letter on Russia by the anti-revolutionary publicist Jean-Baptiste Richer de Sérisy.

Period-appropriate binding well preserved with a natural patina; light wear to the edges and corners, the red title-piece very bright and the spine gilding well preserved. Interior complete on laid handmade paper with light browning and scattered marginal foxing without severity. Fine copy of a sought-after travel narrative.

When the book was originally published in London in 1792, a violent literary controversy erupted: some British critics accused Andrew Swinton of never having set foot in Russia and of having invented his observations by compiling other works!
The historical reality: Swinton defended himself by proving that he was the nephew of the Russian Admiral Greig and that he had indeed stayed in Saint Petersburg. However, modern criticism has revealed that to fill out his narrative he heavily “borrowed” entire passages from the famous Voyage of William Coxe! It was precisely to offer a more authentic and incisive perspective that the Paris editor Arthus-Bertrand decided to append Richer-Séréisy’s critical note in 1801.

Good copy.