An Account of Corsica, The Journal of a Tour to that Island; and memoirs of Pascal Paoli.

1768. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. Illustrated with a New and Accurate Map of Corsica. 8vo. 20th century marbled half-calf; spine with 5 raised bands. Glasgow, Printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis for Edward and Charles Dilly in the Poultry, London. (1768). First Edition. One of the most wonderfully written travel accounts in English from the 18th century. The book is divided in two parts, the first giving a detailed description and history of Corsica, and the second containing a journal of Boswells voyage to the island. It was especially this latter part that excited the public, being a lively account of Boswells quixotic adventures in Corsica and his association with General Paoli. Pascal Paoli was a Corsican patriot, who in 1755 succeeded in liberating the island from Genoese oppression and was chosen president under a republican constitution. In 1769, however, his troops were defeated by the French, and fled to England. Boswell brought Paoli to London, introduced him to the circle of Samuel Johnson, and succeeded in getting official British support for the islands struggle to become an independent nation. With the help of Admiral Hood, the French were defeated in 1794, but after only 2 years of British reign the French took over again, with Corsica coming under jurisdiction of Napoleon Bonaparte. Boswell enjoyed his role as promoter of Corsicas interests so much that he appeared in Corsican costume at Garricks anniversary party in honor of Shakespeare in Stratford-on-Avon in 1769. Johnson said about Boswells book: Your History is like other histories, but your Journal is in a very high degree curious and delightful. One small tear (about 1.5 cm) at the gutter margin of the map, affecting the neatline and one printed word; o/w a fine copy