1865 A Winter in Algeria 1863-64

Description

Scarce

The first edition. Scarce. Collated complete, with six full page monochrome illustrations. The work is a hugely important early Victorian travel guide, purporting the feminist and imperialist values of the author and demonstrating a wider perspective of Victorian understanding of African culture and identity. Interestingly, unlike many other female travel writers of the time, rather than writing about British colonies, the work is focused upon French Algeria and its customs, making it an unusual perspective on the travel genre. The work has a strong focus on the difference in treatment of women in both cultures (Algerian and British) with an emphasis on the perceived better standard to which women are held in the UK in contrast to Algeria. In this sense, the work not only acts as a pioneering piece of travel writing, but also an important work of feminist history and literature. A fascinating and important work, complete, but in need of a sympathetic rebind.