The Idler in Italy 3 Volume Set

This three-volume work (first published in 1839–40) describes the author's life travelling in Italy, France and Switzerland.

Marguerite Blessington (Author)

9781108045308, Cambridge University Press

Multiple-component retail product, published 23 February 2012

1372 pages, 1 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 8 cm, 1.88 kg

Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789–1849) was famous for her charm, wit and beauty, the latter reflected in Sir Thomas Lawrence's famous portrait of her in 1822. Blessington had an unhappy childhood, and was forced into her first marriage at the age of fourteen, but had developed a love of reading and story-telling. With her second husband Charles John Gardiner, first Earl of Blessington, she stayed for several years in France and Italy. This three-volume work, first published 1839–40, contain Blessington's humorous account of living abroad. She gives detailed descriptions of her time in Italian cities such as Florence, Rome and Naples, drawing attention to 'the odour of the cuisine', the beautiful surroundings and weather, inspiring encounters with artists, and daily visits to art galleries. In Genoa she became good friends with Lord Byron, and later published a record of their conversations, also reissued in this series.

Volume 1: 1. Dover
2. Calais
3. Rouen
4. St. Germain-en-Laye
5. Paris
6. Fontainbleau
7. Geneva
8. Lausanne
9. Berne
10. Baden
11. Zurich
12. Schaufhausen
13. Lucerne
14. Secheron
15. Lyons
16. Vienne
17. Lyons
18. Grenoble
19. St. Marcellin
20. Valence
21. Montelimart
22. Orange
23. Avignon
24. Aix
25. Marseilles
26. Toulon
27. Frejus
28. Cannes
29. Nice
30. Mentone
31. Ventimiglia
32. Oneglia
33. Noli
34. Voltri
35. Genoa. Volume 2: 1. Genoa
2. Lucca
3. Florence
4. Siena
5. Radicofani
6. Rome
7. Terracina
8. Mola di Gaeta
9. Naples
10. Environs of Naples
11. Naples continued
12. Rome
13. Florence
14. Genoa
15. Pisa
16. Florence
17. Rome. Volume 3: 1. Rome
2. Terni
3. Spoletto
4. Loretto
5. Ancona
6. Ravenna
7. Ferrara
8. Padua
9. Venice
10. Padua
11. Vicenza
12. Verona
13. Desenzano
14. Milan
15. Arona
16. Laveno
17. Bologna
18. Modena
19. Parma
20. Piacenza
21. Genoa.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural history [HBTB]