Up the Country
Letters Written to her Sister from the Upper Provinces of India

Eden's candid letters represent thousands of nineteenth-century women who dutifully accompanied their men to outposts of the British Empire.

Emily Eden (Author)

9781108020749, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 September 2010

314 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.8 cm, 0.4 kg

Raised in a politically-active household, Emily Eden's childhood prepared her well for her role as companion to her brother, the Governor-General of India. Outwardly all that a middle-class spinster should be, Eden never permitted diplomacy to dilute her letters home. Published in 1866, the letters provoked sympathy among women who had similarly endured dusty bonnets to accompany fathers and husbands to distant outposts of the British Empire. As one reviewer noted, this book is 'addressed primarily to a public consisting of wives, sisters, or daughters of possible Governors-General, and is sure therefore of general popularity'. There is still plenty to amuse modern audiences. Volume 1 takes readers from the packing of steamer trunks in London, through sea voyages and monsoons. Accounts of peacocks and pageants are balanced against ironic observations regarding domestic arrangements, all of which demonstrate Eden's skill as a sensitive and witty author.

1. On board the 'Magna', Oct. 21, 1837
2. The Ganges, Nov. 4, 1837
3. Buxar, Nov. 11, 1837
4. Benares, Nov. 22, 1837
5. Mohun ke Serai
6. Allahabad, Nov. 30, 1837
7. Dec. 7, 1837
8. Maharajpore, Dec. 20, 1837
9. Cawnpore, Dec. 28, 1837
10. Cawnpore, New Year's Day, 1838
11. Futtygunge, Jan. 17, 1838
12. Bareilly, Jan. 22, 1838
13. The Kootub, Feb. 23, 1838
14. Kurnaul, March 5, 1838
15. Saharunpore, March 11, 1838
16. Nahun, March 26, 1838
17. Simla, April 13, 1838
18. May 11, 1838
19. June 14, 1838
20. Simla, August 8, 1838
21. Simla, Sept. 2, 1838
22. Simla, Sept. 27, 1838
23. Oct. 20, 1838
24. Buddee, Nov. 9, 1838
25. Nov. 15, 1838
26. Ferozepore, Nov. 28, 1838
27. Dec. 2, 1838.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]