Alexander Henry Wylie travel diary : manuscript.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Author/Creator:

Wylie, Alexander Henry 1810-1869, author.

Contributor:

Zachs-Adam Rare Book Fund.

Language:

English

Spanish

Subjects (All):

English diaries--19th century--Specimens.

English diaries.

English diaries--Male authors--19th century.

Male authors.

Europe--Description and travel--19th century.

Europe.

Italy--Description and travel--19th century.

Italy.

Havana (Cuba)--Description and travel--19th century.

Havana (Cuba).

Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts)

diaries.

poems.

Manuscripts, English -- 19th century.

Specimens.

Penn Provenance:

Sold by Ian Brabner, Rare Americana (Wilmington, Delaware), 2016.

Physical Description:

1 volume ; 21 x 16 cm + 2 leaves.

Production:

Europe ; Cuba, 1832-1833.

Language Note:

In English, with one poem in Spanish.

Biography/History:

Born on June 13, 1810, in Middlesex, England, one of five children of Henry Wylie and Charlotte Lucy Merry. He became a merchant and lived in Scotland. In 1843 Wylie married Elizabeth Crosbie (1820-1906) and they had seven children.

Summary:

This marbled-paper covered volume with tie closures and a label with a printed border pasted on the cover contains the travel diary of Alexander Henry Wylie. The diary comprises Wylie's descriptions of two journeys. The first trip is a tour through Europe spanning four months from February to June in 1832. The second journey records Wylie's voyage to Havana, Cuba with his brother Macleod from December 1832 to January 1833. Wylie's trip through Europe included Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium. Wylie noted his impressions of the cities he visited, the accommodations, and the people. A significant portion of Wylie's trip--from March to May-- was spent traveling throughout Italy. Wylie spent Easter week at the Vatican and in Rome where he described holy day blessings by the Pope, including Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Easter. Detailed descriptions and impressions of visiting museums, seeing works of art, attending operas, and touring ancient sites throughout Italy are included. Wylie specifically mentions his visit to Palazzo Barberini to see Beatrice Cenci and his admiration for the Colosseum. Wylie was also enamored with Florence, visiting the museums daily. He wrote of visiting friends and acquaintances while in Italy including Lady Vavasour among others. Wylie noted his 22nd birthday on June 13, 1832 while in Düsseldorf. In addition to his tour through Europe, Wylie wrote of his voyage on the Rosehill to Cuba with his brother Macleod. Wylie chiefly wrote of the weather, seasickness, the seas, passing Caribbean islands, and reading until his arrival in Havana, Cuba on January 31, 1833. Wylie recorded what he read on board the Rosehill almost daily. Works include the Bible, Childe Harold's pilgrimage (which he confesses he stole), and Beauties of Sterne. A large portion of leaves in the middle of the volume are blank. Reading the volume from back to front Wylie lists the cities he has visited, people he visited, information concerning money in other countries, ships traveled on, and the captains. "The Valencian love song" a poem written in Spanish spans four pages at the end of the volume. Two armorial bookplates depicting stags with Wylie's full name are laid in the volume.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Zachs-Adam Rare Book Fund.

Cited as:

Alexander Henry Wylie Travel Diary (Ms. Codex 1796). Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania.

OCLC:

962239550