Inhaltsangabe
Wilkie Collins’s Rambles Beyond Railways; or, Notes in Cornwall taken A-foot (first published in 1851, later revised in 1861) offers a captivating glimpse into both the author’s early literary career and the rugged, romantic landscapes of mid-nineteenth-century Cornwall. Best known for his sensation novels, Collins here presents himself as a lively travel writer, capturing the people, places, and stories of a region still largely untouched by the industrial revolution. His narrative blends observation, humor, and historical curiosity, inviting readers to explore Cornwall through the eyes of a curious wanderer.
The book is structured as a series of sketches based on Collins’s walking tour of Cornwall. Setting out on foot, he deliberately avoids the developing railway system, preferring the slower, more intimate pace of travel that allows him to notice details and encounter people whom the modern traveler might overlook. His journey leads him through fishing villages, coastal cliffs, tin and copper mines, ruined castles, and ancient stone monuments. Along the way, Collins records both the physical hardships of travel and the cultural richness of the region, painting a vivid portrait of a land where legend and reality often intertwine.
What makes the narrative particularly engaging is Collins’s eye for character and story. He delights in recounting local superstitions, folklore, and customs, from tales of smugglers and shipwrecks to the haunting presence of prehistoric remains on the moors. He also offers sharp social commentary on the mining industry, poverty, and the resilience of Cornish communities, providing a view of Cornwall that is both picturesque and grounded in human reality. His humor and irony shine throughout, transforming simple anecdotes into memorable scenes.
More than a travelogue, Rambles Beyond Railways reflects Collins’s skill at weaving narrative drama into factual description. The landscapes become characters in their own right—wild cliffs braving Atlantic storms, quiet fishing harbors steeped in tradition, and countryside dotted with remnants of ancient civilizations. The work captures the tension between old ways of life and the encroaching modern world, offering readers both entertainment and insight.
In retrospect, this travel book is also a valuable historical document. It preserves a picture of Cornwall before mass tourism and modernization altered its character. For modern readers, it provides not only a literary pleasure but also a sense of stepping back into a time when travel was slower, encounters more personal, and landscapes more mysterious.
Collins’s Rambles Beyond Railways remains an evocative, witty, and informative work, showcasing the versatility of a writer who could turn from gothic melodrama to vivid travel sketches. It is a reminder of the pleasures of walking as a mode of discovery and of the enduring fascination of Cornwall, a land of history, legend, and striking natural beauty.
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Zustand: Like New. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers rev1879583606
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