Over the Sea and Far Away

Hinchliff, Thomas Woodbine [TRAVEL]

Published by Longmans, London, 1876

(London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1876). FIRST EDITION, 8vo, pp xv, 416, 14 inserted plates with illustrations engraved on wood by George Pearson. Bound in blue buckram for "The Royal School of the Cathedral Church of Rochester" with their coat of arms in gold to the front board. The spine has a small maroon label lettered in gilt. Page edges marbled. End-papers in pale ochre. A solid VG (or better) copy. No inscriptions and no other evidence that the book was originally part of a School Library. Shows well. Thomas Woodbine Hinchliff (1825-1882), British barrister, Lincoln's Inn, mountaineer, amateur botanist and world traveler, took part in the founding of the Alpine Club, 1857, and was its first secretary and, later, its seventh president, 1875-1877. From the Review in Nature Magazine (April 27 1876): "Mr. HINCHLIFF, who is already known as the author of one or two pleasant narratives of travel, managed, in one year, to do 36,000 miles of ocean, besides spending a considerable time in exploring various regions of America and Asia. His reasons for writing this considerable book on his tour of the world are to induce other tourists to follow his example, not in writing a book, but in leaving the beaten paths and learning something about and enjoying the many beauties of South America especially, and also because he believes there is abundant room for a further and more detailed account of the natural aspect of many of the countries visited, 'especially with regard to their scenery, their flowers, ferns, and fruits.' We are bound to say that Mr. Hinchliff, from these points of view, has fairly justified the publication of the present work. He writes in excellent spirits, tells clearly what he saw, keeps up the interest from beginning to end, and the general reader, at all events, will find many things in the book quite new to him. Mr. Hinchliff spent most of his time in Western North America, in California, and the Yosemité Valley especially, in Brazil, Peru, and Japan. He is a good and enthusiastic botanist, a shrewd observer, and a clear narrator. He managed to see a great deal that was well worth seeing of the countries visited, their products, and their inhabitants, and although he opened up no new ground, he has been able to suggest aspects and describe phases that, we daresay, even those familiar with the literature of travel will recognise as original. The illustrations are good and appropriate, and altogether we can recommend the work as a really interesting and instructive record of a long tour." Photographs/scans available upon request. Seller Inventory # 355490723327

Bibliographic Details

Title: Over the Sea and Far Away
Publisher: Longmans, London
Publication Date: 1876
Binding: Hard Cover
Edition: First Edition.