Author: COOPER, James Fenimore (1789-1863):
Title: Excursions in Switzerland. In 2 vols.
Description: London, Richard Bentley, 1836, in-8vo, XV + 304 p. / VIII + 314 p., ex-libris 'Thomas Conolly' / exlibris Peter E. Obergfell, half calf with corners, green title pieces on spines, gilt decor. on spines, marbled boards. Very fine copy. ¶ First English edition. One of the Cooper's travel sketches written in 1828, in the form of letters, published in 1836 (first American edition). Visits mainly to the alpine regions like the Bernese Oberland, the Valais and Central Switzerland. The famous author of ,The Last of the Mohicans', saw a friend in Thun, a captain in the Swiss army, marching at the head of his men, Cooper joined him in the march, in order to inquire after his family, and writes 'and thus I have had the honour of serving in the Swiss ranks' (Beer). The author travelled in Europe from 1828-1832 and spent much of 1828 in Switzerland on a grand tour on the lakes, passes and peaks. All the accolades for his American novels could not quell British condemnation of his highly critical English sketches. On his Swiss tour, however, he was overwhelmed by the 'sublime and diversified beauties' and, although he critically compared everything European with everything American, his genius for detailed observation is best shown on his all-inclusive Swiss tour. Please notify before visiting to see a book. Prices are excl. VAT/TVA (only Switzerland) & postage. De Beer, Travellers in Switzerland, 177-178; Allibone I, p.424-25; Wäber II, 69; Perret 1109-A (la première édition anglaise est rarissime); Reichler, Le voyage en Suisse -.

Keywords: literature litterature Switzerland Suisse-Générale, Switzerland-general, Schweiz-allgemein american literature litterature-americaine helvetica, Switzerland helvetica alpinism, mountaineering alpinisme