A firsthand account of faith, travel, and cultural discovery across continents.
This abridged English edition compiles Father Ripa’s rich narrative of his life, his call to priestly service, and his long journey from Naples to the court of the Emperor in Peking, including the founding of the Chinese College in Naples.
This volume presents the author’s early life, his dramatic vocation, and the beginnings of his mission to China, framed by Victorian-era translation and selection. It offers a window into 18th‑century religious life, cross-cultural encounters, and the enduring quest to educate and uplift through faith.
- Personal memoir of a missionary’s formation, struggles, and calling.
- Detailed scenes of travel, diplomacy, and life at the Chinese court as described by an early chronicler.
- Historical context around the founding of the Chinese College in Naples and the spread of Chinese studies in Europe.
- Selections that highlight the author’s reflections on duty, education, and cross-cultural exchange.
Ideal for readers of history, religion, and biographical narratives that illuminate cross‑cultural encounter in the pre-modern world.