Items related to By the Ionian Sea : Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy
Synopsis
In 1897 the Victorian novelist George Gissing undertook a brief but eventful journey in southern Italy. His itinerary took him from Naples to Reggio di Calabria, via Paola, Cosenza, Crotone and Squillace, through the area once known as Magna Graecia. Meditating on the vestiges of Greco-Roman civilization, Gissing visited tombs and temples, museums and cathedrals, in search of the imprint of antiquity and "that old world which was the imaginative delight of my boyhood." The result was By the Ionian Sea, first published in 1901. Gissing's journey by boat, train, and carriage revealed not just the ruined glories of a classical past, but also the hardships of rural life in turn-of-the-century rural Italy. Meeting poverty-stricken peasants and corrupt local officials, he endured discomfort, danger and illness in a remote and little visited corner of Europe. Yet throughout he appreciated the warmth and generosity shown to him by local people, curious about this solitary stranger. By turns lyrical and melancholic, Gissing's masterpiece of travel writing alternates between light and dark, life and death, Paganism and Christianity. Looking at Italy in both its classical and contemporary dimensions, By the Ionian Sea celebrates Calabria's rich cultural past and beautiful landscapes while providing a candid account of the region's hardship and poverty. More than a century after its first publication, this is the first critical edition of the book in English.
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About the Author
GEORGE ROBERT GISSING (1857-1903) was the author of 22 novels, including the partly autobiographical New Grub Street (1891). PIERRE COUSTILLAS is professor emeritus at the University of Lille and an authority on Victorian literature.
Review
"The journey is spell-bound delight. It vibrates with a romantic scholar's ecstasy." Patrick Leigh Fermor "(The editor's) devotion to Gissing is boundless and it has paid off. With its precise notes and photographs, the Signal edition is surely definitive" The Spectator "It takes only a few pages of Gissing's solitary travel book ... to establish quite how loudly the tocsins of the Ancient World clanged in this late-Victorian ear" TLS
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- PublisherSignal Books Ltd
- Publication date2003
- ISBN 10 1902669673
- ISBN 13 9781902669670
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages224
- Rating
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By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found): Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found): v.8 (Lost & Found S.)
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Signal Books Ltd, United Kingdom, Oxford, 2003
ISBN 10: 1902669673
ISBN 13: 9781902669670
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. In 1897 the Victorian novelist George Gissing undertook a brief but eventful journey in southern Italy. His itinerary took him from Naples to Reggio di Calabria, via Paola, Cosenza, Crotone and Squillace, through the area once known as Magna Graecia. Meditating on the vestiges of Greco-Roman civilization, Gissing visited tombs and temples, museums and cathedrals, in search of the imprint of antiquity and "that old world which was the imaginative delight of my boyhood." The result was By the Ionian Sea, first published in 1901. Gissing's journey by boat, train, and carriage revealed not just the ruined glories of a classical past, but also the hardships of rural life in turn-of-the-century rural Italy. Meeting poverty-stricken peasants and corrupt local officials, he endured discomfort, danger and illness in a remote and little visited corner of Europe. Yet throughout he appreciated the warmth and generosity shown to him by local people, curious about this solitary stranger. By turns lyrical and melancholic, Gissing's masterpiece of travel writing alternates between light and dark, life and death, Paganism and Christianity. Looking at Italy in both its classical and contemporary dimensions, By the Ionian Sea celebrates Calabria's rich cultural past and beautiful landscapes while providing a candid account of the region's hardship and poverty. More than a century after its first publication, this is the first critical edition of the book in English. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR003704100
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By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found): Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found)
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found): Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found) This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9781902669670
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By the Ionian Sea : Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy
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Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 0.71. Seller Inventory # 1902669673-2-3
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By the Ionian Sea : Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy
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By the Ionian Sea : Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found)
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By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found): Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost & Found)
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781902669670
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By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost and Found): Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (Lost and Found)
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Very Good. ***Simply Brit*** Welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there is something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality. Seller Inventory # 3842943
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By the Ionian Sea : notes of a ramble in southern Italy / George Gissing ; introduction and notes by Pierre Coustillas
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New Edition. Fine paperback copy. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description; xxvii, 159 p : ill ; 21 cm. Subjects; Gissing, George 1857-1903 Travel Italy, Southern. Gissing, George 1857-1903. Italy, Southern ; Guidebooks. Italy, Southern Description and travel. Italy, Southern Description and travel 19th century. 1 Kg. Seller Inventory # 358209
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By the Ionian Sea : notes of a ramble in southern Italy / George Gissing ; introduction and notes by Pierre Coustillas
Seller: MW Books Ltd., Galway, Ireland
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
New Edition. Fine paperback copy. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description; xxvii, 159 p : ill ; 21 cm. Subjects; Gissing, George 1857-1903 Travel Italy, Southern. Gissing, George 1857-1903. Italy, Southern ; Guidebooks. Italy, Southern Description and travel. Italy, Southern Description and travel 19th century. 1 Kg. Seller Inventory # 358209
Quantity: 1 available