☙ Voyage autour du monde - Australie - Pékin, Yeddo - Java, Siam, Canton

1878 - Ludovic de Beauvoir

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☙ Voyage autour du monde - Australie - Pékin, Yeddo - Java, Siam, Canton

✑ Ludovic de Beauvoir

VOYAGE AUTOUR DU MONDE - AUSTRALIE - PÉKIN, YEDDO - JAVA, SIAM, CANTON

The third volume of Count Ludovic de Beauvoir's "Voyage autour du monde" constitutes an exceptional testimony of exploration of the Asian and Oceanic world during the second half of the 19th century. Published in 1878 by the Parisian publishing house E. Plon et Cie, this work is part of an ambitious editorial enterprise of twelve volumes tracing the author's complete journey around the globe. Count de Beauvoir, an aristocrat and tireless traveler, offers in this volume his observations on destinations then largely unknown to the Western public: Australia, Peking, Yeddo (the former name of Tokyo), Java, Siam and Canton. These accounts hold capital historical importance, as they capture these societies at a pivotal moment in their history, on the threshold of their forced or voluntary opening to Western influence. The work is distinguished by its both ethnographic and personal approach, mixing detailed descriptions of customs, landscapes and institutions with the subjective impressions of a cultivated European discovering millennial civilizations.

Why add it to your collection?

Fascinating exploration account of Asian and Oceanic worlds by a French aristocrat of the 19th century

Direct testimony of the cultures and civilizations of Australia, China, Japan, Java, Siam and Canton in the 1870s

Third volume of a monumental 12-tome series tracing a complete journey around the globe

Precious historical document illustrating the first contacts between the West and the Far East in modern times

Original edition published by the prestigious Plon house, enriched with detailed ethnographic and geographic observations

Description

The Author and His Enterprise

Ludovic de Beauvoir (1846-1929), French count and member of the Second Empire aristocracy, undertook in the 1860s-1870s an extraordinary journey that took him literally around the world. Unlike many travelers of his time who contented themselves with superficial adventure narratives, Beauvoir adopted a rigorous approach, methodically documenting his observations. His complete work, published in twelve volumes by E. Plon et Cie between 1867 and 1878, quickly became a reference for geographers, ethnographers and the cultivated French public.

Content of the Third Volume

This volume covers several major destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. The Australian section offers a look at the rapidly expanding British colonies, describing both the emerging cities and the wild interior of the continent. The chapters devoted to Peking immerse the reader in the Chinese imperial capital, still largely closed to foreigners, offering rare descriptions of Manchu institutions and daily life in the Forbidden City.

The section on Yeddo (Tokyo) holds particular importance, as it documents Japan at the dawn of the Meiji era, a moment of radical transformation of Japanese society. Beauvoir witnesses the troubling coexistence between centuries-old feudal traditions and the first Western influences. His observations on Java reveal the complexities of Dutch colonization, while the chapters on Siam present a still-independent kingdom navigating between British and French colonial ambitions.

Historical and Scientific Value

The work is distinguished by its documentary rigor. Beauvoir does not merely describe what he sees; he contextualizes, compares, analyzes. His architectural descriptions are precise, his accounts of political and social systems are nuanced. He is particularly interested in arts, religions and social structures, offering precious insights into civilizations at a moment of major historical transition. His observations on Canton, the great trading port with the West, illustrate the tensions and opportunities created by China's forced opening after the Opium Wars.

Edition and Presentation

The 1878 edition by E. Plon et Cie, a prestigious Parisian publisher specializing in quality works, testifies to the importance given to this publication. The format and presentation correspond to the high standards of the era for scholarly works destined for the libraries of cultivated classes. The careful typography and robust binding ensured the durability of these volumes meant to be consulted and preserved.

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