Up the country’ letters written to her sister from the upper provinces of India
Emily Eden, ‘Up the country’ letters written to her sister from the upper provinces of India, London: Bentley, 1866, 3rd edition
In 2 Volumes
Volume I: vi, 302 pages, [ii]
Volume II: 263 pages
Bound by Edmond and Remnants, London, in original red cloth, gilt decorations and lettering (each)
8.10 x 5.5 in (20.5 x 13.9 cm) (each)
An ‘entertaining account of the eighteen months she spent in the upper provinces of India, beginning with a journey from Calcutta to Simla in 1837, as first lady of the Raj’ (Robinson).
Known for her amusing accounts of English life in the 19th century, Eden was a reputed poet and artist from London. Born into a family of aristocrats, she was acquainted with British political affairs and life from an early age.
When her brother George (Lord Auckland) was appointed as Governor-General to India in 1836, Eden, along with her sister Fanny, accompanied him and traveled around the subcontinent for a few years. During this time, she documented the personalities she encountered and occasions she witnessed through a series of richly detailed sketches. From portraits of Indian aristocrats and servants to depictions of royal ceremonies and major political events, her sketches serve both as a personal and historical memoir of colonial India. In 1844, a few years after her return to England, these drawings were published as a set of monochrome and hand-painted lithographs known as Portraits of the People and Princes of India.
Eden also recorded her life and observations in India in a collection of delightfully written letters addressed to her sister, which were later published as ‘Up the country’ letters written to her sister from the upper provinces of India.
Eden's insightful commentary and sharp sarcasm provide readers with a personal perspective on colonial India in this two-volume work. Her letters vividly illustrate the landscapes, cultures, and social dynamics of the regions she traveled, combining humor with insightful reflections on the intricacies of British colonial control. Eden's narrative not only encapsulates the majesty and obstacles of 19th-century travel, but it also offers a nuanced perspective on the interactions between the British and Indian populations. The candid accounts and literary flare of the author have solidified Up the Country as a classic of colonial literature, providing enduring insights into the historical and cultural milieu of the era.
She is also known for her novels The Semi-detached House and The Semi-attached Couple.
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