A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain
by Daniel Defoe
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This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1748. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... LETTER VI. CONTAINING A Description of the greatest Part of the Principality of Wales. Thought I should not pay the Principality the Respect it so well deserves, if I did not begin a Letter with the Description of it; it being the Country of that brave People, who had an original Right to show more the whole Island, and made so noble a Stand in Defence of their Liberties and Independency; and, at last, rather than submit to a foreign Yoke, chose to be free in this remote and inaccessible Part of it. But here let me premise, that Wales is represented in the British Parliament by .24 Members. The Counties and Towns which return them will be particulariz'd in the general List, which I shall present you with at the End of my Tour thro' this Southern Part of the Island (a). The two first Counties which border West upon Monmouthshire are Brecknock and Glamorgan, and are -ery mountainous on the East Side, which gives a (.-}} See at the Conclusion of Vol. III. Traveler Traveler a terrible Apprehension of the Country he is this way entering into, and an Expectation of meeting with nothing that is agreeable; but he is not long before he is undeceived, and finds the Reward of his Trouble. In that Part of Monmouthjhire which joins the two Counties, begins the Rising of the Hills. Kyrton-Beacon, Tumbcrlow, Blorench, Penvail, and Skirridan, are some of the Names of these horrid Mountains, and are all in this Shire; and I could not but fansy myself in View of Mount Brennus, Little-Barnard, and Great-Barnard, among the AEps. We now entered South Wales; which contains the Shires of Glamorgan, Brecknock, Radnor, Caermarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan. Brecknock/hire is a mere inland County, as Radnor is; the Englijh jestingly (and I think not very improperly) call it Break-neck-J.. show lessTags
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Long before JB Priestley's English Journey, 1934. Defoe had a keen eye for what was worth noticing and what to pass by quickly. From Defoe:
I cannot leave Windsor, without taking notice, that we crossed the Thames upon a wooden bridge, for all the bridges on the river, between London and Oxford, are of timber, for the conveniency of the barges. Here we saw Eaton College, the finest school for what we call grammar learning, for it extends only to the humanity class, that is in Britain, or, perhaps, in Europe. . .
And now being come to the edge of Middlesex, which is a county too full of cities, towns, and palaces, to be brought in at the close of a letter, and with which I purpose to begin my next travels; I conclude this letter, and am,
show more Sir,
Your most humble servant, show less
I cannot leave Windsor, without taking notice, that we crossed the Thames upon a wooden bridge, for all the bridges on the river, between London and Oxford, are of timber, for the conveniency of the barges. Here we saw Eaton College, the finest school for what we call grammar learning, for it extends only to the humanity class, that is in Britain, or, perhaps, in Europe. . .
And now being come to the edge of Middlesex, which is a county too full of cities, towns, and palaces, to be brought in at the close of a letter, and with which I purpose to begin my next travels; I conclude this letter, and am,
show more Sir,
Your most humble servant, show less
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711+ Works 53,505 Members
Daniel Defoe was born Daniel Foe in London, England on September 13, 1660. He changed his surname in 1703, adding the more genteel "De" before his own name to suggest a higher social standing. He was a novelist, journalist, and political agent. His writings covered a wide range of topics. His novels include Robinson Crusoe, Moll Flanders, Roxana, show more Captain Singleton, and Colonel Jack. He wrote A Tour Thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain, which is an important source of English economic life, and ghost stories including A True Relation of the Apparition of One Mrs. Veal. He also wrote satirical poems and pamphlets and edited a newspaper. He was imprisoned and pilloried for his controversial work, The Shortest Way with the Dissenters, which suggested that all non-Conformist ministers be hanged. He died on April 24, 1731. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- A Tour through England and Wales; A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain
- Original title
- A Tour Thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain, Divided into Circuits or Journies
- Original publication date
- 1724; 1724–6
- Important places
- England, UK; Wales, UK; Scotland, UK
- Dedication
- for Polly
- Quotations
- [at Bushey Heath] they were surprised at the Beauty of this Prospect, and how they look'd at one another, and then again turning their eyes every way in a kind of Wonder, one of them said to the other, that England was not li... (show all)ke other Countrys, but it was all a planted garden. ... The inclos'd Corn-Fields made one grand Parterre, the thick planted Hedge Rows, like a Wilderness or Labyrinth, divided into Espaliers; the Villages interspers'd ...
- Original language
- English
- Disambiguation notice
- This is the full text of Defoe’s work. Do not combine with abridged editions published by the Penguin English Library or the Folio Society.
Classifications
- Genres
- Travel, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 914.10471 — History & geography Geography & travel Geography of and travel in Europe British Isles, UK, Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland subdivisions and modified standard subdivisions Travel; guidebooks 1714-1837 Hanovers
- LCC
- DA620 .D31 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Great Britain History of Great Britain England Description and travel. Guidebooks
- BISAC
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- 138,664
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.97)
- Languages
- English, Hungarian
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 21
