About the book
In the summer of 1828 James Fenimore Cooper, his wife, and their five children set out from Paris for Switzerland, and Cooper wrote that he experienced a \"glorious anticipation,\" for \"a common-place converse with men was about to give place to a sublime communion with Nature.\"
Sketches of Switzerland, the book which describes this experience and which is republished here for the first time in the United States since its original issue in 1836, was the first of five European travel books written, Cooper said, \"for my own Countrymen,\" in which the American novelist gave \"rapid sketches\" of what he saw \"with American eyes,\" studiously avoiding the drab, factual accounts of ordinary tourists.
His indispensable resources in the composition of Switzerland were his gifts of total recall and his skill in writing prose pictures in the style then known as \"picturesque.\" Seeking an immediacy analogous to that of the artist's brush, Cooper captures various elements of \"picturesque\" style, especially the incongruity between the sublime, terrifying scenery and the more familiar sights and associations of domestic life.
Even in the creation of verbal pictures, Cooper could not resist expressing his concerns with society and politics; and though his criticism seems harmless enough today—perhaps even salutary—it was disturbing to American readers less secure than Cooper in their confidence in their institutions and society. Partly, at least, for this reason, Cooper's most successful nonfictional experiment in the \"picturesque\" mode has never been adequately appreciated.
Editions of Gleanings in Europe
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780873953641
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780873954228
- PDF
- ISBN 9780791499801
Read an Excerpt
In the summer of 1828 James Fenimore Cooper, his wife, and their five children set out from Paris for Switzerland, and Cooper wrote that he experienced a \"glorious anticipation,\" for \"a common-place converse with men was about to give place to a sublime communion with Nature.\"
Sketches of Switzerland, the book which describes this experience and which is republished here for the first time in the United States since its original issue in 1836, was the first of five European travel books written, Cooper said, \"for my own Countrymen,\" in which the American novelist gave \"rapid sketches\" of what he saw \"with American eyes,\" studiously avoiding the drab, factual accounts of ordinary tourists.
His indispensable resources in the composition of Switzerland were his gifts of total recall and his skill in writing prose pictures in the style then known as \"picturesque.\" Seeking an immediacy analogous to that of the artist's brush, Cooper captures various elements of \"picturesque\" style, especially the incongruity between the sublime, terrifying scenery and the more familiar sights and associations of domestic life.
Even in the creation of verbal pictures, Cooper could not resist expressing his concerns with society and politics; and though his criticism seems harmless enough today—perhaps even salutary—it was disturbing to American readers less secure than Cooper in their confidence in their institutions and society. Partly, at least, for this reason, Cooper's most successful nonfictional experiment in the \"picturesque\" mode has never been adequately appreciated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gleanings in Europe about?
In the summer of 1828 James Fenimore Cooper, his wife, and their five children set out from Paris for Switzerland, and Cooper wrote that he experienced a \"glorious anticipation,\" for \"a common-place converse with men was about to give place to a sublime communion with Nature.\"
Sketches of Switzerland, the book which describes this experience and which is republished here for the first time in the United States since its original issue in 1836, was the first of five European travel books written, Cooper said, \"for my own Countrymen,\" in which the American novelist gave \"rapid sketches\" of what he saw \"with American eyes,\" studiously avoiding the drab, factual accounts of ordinary tourists.
His indispensable resources in the composition of Switzerland were his gifts of total recall and his skill in writing prose pictures in the style then known as \"picturesque.\" Seeking an immediacy analogous to that of the artist's brush, Cooper captures various elements of \"picturesque\" style, especially the incongruity between the sublime, terrifying scenery and the more familiar sights and associations of domestic life.
Even in the creation of verbal pictures, Cooper could not resist expressing his concerns with society and politics; and though his criticism seems harmless enough today—perhaps even salutary—it was disturbing to American readers less secure than Cooper in their confidence in their institutions and society. Partly, at least, for this reason, Cooper's most successful nonfictional experiment in the \"picturesque\" mode has never been adequately appreciated.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Gleanings in Europe?
History and Archaeology > History
Where can I read a sample of Gleanings in Europe?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780873953641
How long is Gleanings in Europe and how many pages does it have?
Gleanings in Europe has 361 page(s)
Is Gleanings in Europe part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The Writings of James Fenimore Cooper
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Gleanings in Europe?
James Fenimore Cooper
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Gleanings in Europe is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780873953641) and paperback(ISBN 9780873954228) and pdf(ISBN 9780791499801)
Where can I buy Gleanings in Europe online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Gleanings in Europe from below
Where can I buy Gleanings in Europe?