Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ... preface. In these days of locomotive enterprise, a Lady's ride of some hundreds of miles does not excite much astonishment, and still less requires any apology. Few, if any, will accuse her of unfeminine conduct in the desire to avail herself of a favourite exercise in combination with her wish to see the world; nor will many, it is hoped, be inclined to attribute to her any intention of making herself conspicuous by selecting a mode of satisfying her curiosity which; though not very common, is at least not without precedent, and such precedent as must prove it to be perfectly consistent with female modesty and ladylike manners. Were it needful, I might instance the Author of " Letters from the South." Those who have read her work cannot but allow that it is quite a picture of amiable womanhood, and yet she stretched her equestrian wanderings as far as Asia Minor. " A Ride through France and Italy " is not the work of a cavalry officer, but of a delicate, fair-haired daughter of England; and, look as closely as you may into its contents, you will not find a word or a thought inconsistent with her sex and station. Have not Lady Sale, Lady Erroll, Mrs. Ford, and Mrs. Duberly made experience of equestrian, and even of warlike life, with honour, rather than stain, to their wife-like qualities? I hope I may quote all these examples without meaning to compare my humble excursion to their more heroic deeds. Whoever will venture to look into the stereoscope of these few leaves will, at most, find some Italian landscapes and a few character portraits, taken in the Romagna, the Marches of Ancona, and the beautiful valleys of Savoy; and I trust they will not be offended by some occasional notices of gratitude and affection to those two faithful...
