A Journey Through the Austrian Netherlands. Containing The Modern History and Description of all the Provinces, Towns, Castles, Palaces, &c. of that Fruitful, Populous Country, so long the Scene of Wars and dreadful Ravages, till it was by the Treaty of Utrecht yielded to the Emperor of Germany. With An Account of all the remarkable Battles and Sieges; taken from the most authentick Narratives. To which is prefixed, An Introduction, containing the ancient History of the whole Seventeen Provinces. The Second Edition.

MACKY, John; DEFOE, Daniel (formerly attrib.).

Edité par London: Printed for J. Pemberton, and D. Browne, 1732

A propos de cet article

Second edition, following the first of 1725, of a handsomely bound travelogue formerly attributed to Daniel Defoe. This attribution is easiest to understand on biographical grounds. The life of John Macky (d. 1726) shares several similarities with that of Defoe. Both men were active in late Stuart espionage - at the time of the union, for instance, Defoe was canvassing political support in Edinburgh while Macky was monitoring Jacobite naval activity in Dunkirk. Both men spent time in debtor's prison, and both turned to writing as a means of repairing their financial position. Like Defoe, Macky produced numerous examples of travel writing and political propaganda, but the Journey is among the works most closely rooted in his own experiences. His early government work involved managing the packet service to the Netherlands, and he first visited the region when spying on Jacobite networks in the early 1700s. J. D. Alsop notes that the Journey probably masks further "espionage work in the territories" (ODNB). Defoe's frequently clandestine approach to publication, and his ability to write persuasively on any side of an issue, has resulted in an ever-changing "canon." By the late 19th century, when this work was rebound, almost 400 titles were assigned to Defoe - nearly 300 more than listed in the first (1790) bibliography of his work. ESTC T63086. Octavo (187 x 118 mm), pp. [iii]-xxx, [2], 205, [1], [26]; lacking half-title. Wood-engraved head- and tailpieces and historiated initials. Late 19th-century crushed red morocco, spine ruled and decorated in gilt and with twin dark green morocco labels, covers panelled and with cornerpieces in gilt, turn-ins in gilt, marbled endpapers, edges marbled and gilt. Faint sunning to spine, minimal spotting to otherwise fresh contents: a very good copy indeed.

N° de réf. du vendeur 180278

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: A Journey Through the Austrian Netherlands. Containing The Modern History and Description of all the Provinces, Towns, Castles, Palaces, &c. of that Fruitful, Populous Country, so long the Scene of Wars and dreadful Ravages, till it was by the Treaty of Utrecht yielded to the Emperor of Germany. With An Account of all the remarkable Battles and Sieges; taken from the most authentick Narratives. To which is prefixed, An Introduction, containing the ancient History of the whole Seventeen ...
• Éditeur: London: Printed for J. Pemberton, and D. Browne, 1732