Abbott Capt James (1 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. First edition. 2 volumes, 8vo. 401, 299, ciii pp. The large folding map is present. Contemporary full purple leather in a finely executed binding featuring the Scottish Wheel motif on the boards, spines in 5 compartments with raised bans, gilt, all edges gilt. gilt inner dentelles. Decorated endpapers. Frontispiece portrait. The map has a short closed marginal tear where it attached to the book (no loss, else this is a near fine set, though the shade of the purple differs slightly by the volume. Pussuant to the Russian invasion of Khiva, a khanate located in present-day Uzbekistan Abbott, a British army officer, was sent to Khiva on a diplomatic mission to convince the Khan to free Russian slaves, thereby removing a justification for the invasion, and establish a British presence in Khiva to mediate between them and Russia. Abbott provides insights into the Khiva Court's customs, politics, and perhaps even audiences with the Khan himself. The narrative also extends beyond Khiva as Abbott describes his time in St. Petersburg attempting to mediate between Russia and Khiva, though ultimately unsuccessful. .