Journey
to Mauritius (Lost & Found Classic Travel Writing)
by Bernardin De Saint-Pierre
Paul et Virginie (1787), an adolescent love story set in an exotic
Indian Ocean island, was one of the literary sensations of the age. Telling
of a passion both chaste and doomed, the novel combined fashionable sentimentality
with an evocatively tropical setting. It was a huge critical and commercial
success in France and abroad, a precursor of the Romantic movement.
The novel's author, Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, had previously
spent 28 months in the French colony of Ile de France (now Mauritius) in
1778-80. This extended exposure to the island not only inspired Paul et
Virginie, but also led to one of the period's fullest and most fascinating
accounts of a colonial society and its daily life. First published in 1773,
Voyage à L'Isle de France is now available in this newly translated
and annotated edition-Journey to Mauritius.
Structured into a series of letters, Bernardin's survey of Mauritius
includes a detailed description of the island's geography, flora, and fauna.
Describing the closed nature of colonial society, he also provides a chilling
picture of the cruelties of plantation life and slavery. Mixing indignation
with a lyrical appreciation of the island's beauty, Bernardin provides
us with one of the earliest examples of a walking guide as he details Mauritius'
sights and landscapes. From the disappearance of the dodo to the mosaic
of multiracial Port Louis little escapes the author's curious gaze.
An introduction sets this travel account in its historical context,
discussing Bernardin's life and ideas. It also explores its contribution
to travel writing and its relevance to modern-day Mauritius. Illustrated
with period engravings, Journey to Mauritius will be of interest to those
visiting the island as well as students of anti-slavery movement, colonialism,
and travel writing.
About the Author
A friend and disciple of Rousseau, Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (1737-1814)
was a naturalist and influential social critic as well as a successful
author. A military engineer by training, he was instrumental in popularizing
pastoral fiction with Paul et Virginie. Jason Wilson, Professor of Latin
American literature at University College, London, was born in Mauritius
and is the author of books on Alexander von Humboldt and Octavio Paz, and
Buenos Aires: A Cultural and Literary Companion.
Paperback from Interlink Pub Group
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