Remarks on antiquities, arts, and letters during an excursion in Italy, in the years 1802 and 1803

the long version

"Joseph Forsyth's Remarks on Antiquities is a rare book, which during the nineteenth century was regarded as a classic of Italian travel literature. Forsyth was enlightened, liberal, and inquiring, combining informed taste, scientific sense, historical reflection and openness to new artistic forms. Rapid sketches enliven his commentary. Readers were quick to praise his capacity for memorable detail. At the same time he was immensely erudite. Informed study repays the reader with a deeper sense of how Forsyth reacted to the classical past and appreciated the contemporary cultural and political condition of Italy. This new edition provides the necessary material to read Remarks not only for pleasure but as a challenging example of what was regarded as the best kind of travel writing.". "This book is a readable modern text of the second edition, including the original index, correcting typographical errors (which are listed), preserving the original page numbers and recording all variant readings of substance from the first edition. Translations of 222 quotations from Greek, Latin, Italian, and French literature, and 212 other foreign passages, are included, with source citations for literary quotations, including those in English. In addition, the notes explain many references to classical and Italian history and to contemporary culture."--BOOK JACKET.