The General History of Voyages of l'Abbé Prévost
L'Abbé Prévost, famous for his Manon Lescaut, and partly to rebel vows Benedictine, had to take refuge abroad for long periods, first in Holland and then in London, where he became fluent in the language English.
Green - Collection of Voyages and TravelsC'est probably as much by choice as by need money, he agreed to translate into French a publication announced monumental, A new general collection of voyages and travels, by John Green which began to appear in England in 1745.
The aim of Green was ambitious: "Our company has three goals of equal importance: 1 Prevent the loss of a large number of valuable books; 2 make common rare books; 3 form a body of the best authors who have written about the different parts of the world. "After explaining why all previous works were (of course) bad, Green explains his method: "Instead of giving each integer author in order of publication, we separate his diary and adventures of his remarks. The first of these two parts is given unmixed the second is incorporated with the comments of other travelers on the same areas. "
Prevost - General History of VoyagesDès the beginning, Prevost was not content with a simple translation: "My additions consist of the historical links that have been neglected, so I deleted several notes, some I've unnecessary flood others that honest people would find offensive. Where in the world and even read what religion we willingly invectives against the government and the religion of others, especially when they are of no use for the clarification of the historical text? "
[Main deletions made by Prevost will be published in the Preface of the Continuation, in volume 65]
He also re-maps, and engravings: "Although the English figures are not without beauty, it is very great difference found in favor of the mine. Instead of a dead board, where men and animals properly provided that the outside shape, Cochin Mr. Son has managed to follow in each figure the truth of the character without diminishing the resemblance. "
If it was right for cards, those of the French edition is clearly superior, it was a bad idea for engravings, and many more live in the English edition.
All was well. Volumes sold by subscription, either in-4 format or format in-12 (four volumes in 12 volumes in-4) appeared regularly, and they sat properly when Green after his volume on China , stopped abruptly now.
It is in England, publishing had much less success, Green found himself deprived of state subsidies promised.
Prevost decided to continue the adventure alone in France where he writes with more than a bit of jingoistic spirit, "business do nothing to lose Sciences favor they deserve. "
He took the opportunity to restate the principles of the book: "After being reduced to following English authors by addressing, on occasion, to their excess weight and verbosity, their endless repetitions, their displaced Tour , decreasing them a lot, I will now walk without professional guide. "
The plan will be completely redesigned from the chapter on America, and the rest of Asia chapters, "I will work to make the travelers Nations which some English writers seem apprehensive with more equality comparisons little advantageous for themselves in competition Navigation and Commerce. I will Relations in an order that can make them serve them to lend the day, and give the Employer the quality of a true story, by the connection of events. "
America begins in Volume 45 of the edition 12mo. But the author comes back somewhat on its earlier promises, "There is no question of throwing so late the foundations of another work. But it is too late to give in terms of English, instead of abandoning me to travelers, I find it necessary to start with a general exhibition, which will include the history of discoveries and Establishments. "
In 13 years, from 1746 to 1759, Prevost has made 15 volumes in 4 (7 translated from English, eight of his own), 60 volumes in 12 (28 translated to English, 32 of his own) .
Is added in 1761 an Alphabetical Table of Contents, which has the merit of being analytical. It was established by Chompré nephew (as Volume 65) or brother (according to Volume 69) the author of the Dictionary of Fable.
Five years later, and three years after the death of l'Abbé Prévost, starting to look a suite, then a Continuation.
The suite includes "Voyages of earth" and "rendition and Additions Edition of Holland" (actually, mostly additions to the Dutch explorers). This reference to the edition of Holland appears on the cover page only for volumes 65-68, and disappears from the 69 that occasion to mark the difference, the suite was renamed Continuation.
Editor of 4 volumes of Suite and the first four volumes of the Continuation is not Didot, but Rozet: the death of Father Didot, the fund of the History of Travel happened at Durand then, death of the latter, was bought by Rozet.
The Prospectus Suite published in 1765, the first four volumes in 1766, but a delay of 14 months will be done to the following volumes, which appear only in 1768, a severe skin disease affecting senior writer, whose full details medical are extensively discussed in the Preliminary Statement of Volume 69 of the edition 12mo. No doubt eager to calm investors.
From Volume 73 Edition 12mo, publisher becomes Panckoucke. There will be a total of 80 volumes in 12 or 20 volumes in 4. The last four format appear in-12 in 1789, but the revolution is been there, do come out in-4 format that Year X (1802).
Abstract will be started by a La Harpe, always with Panckoucke then continued by V. Comeiras. 24 volumes 8vo appear in Ledentu in 1825.
This work has been variously judged. Barber, for example, says a lot of trouble.
She nevertheless a perfect synthesis of geographical knowledge accumulated at the time. His maps are excellent. Alive, by the accounts of travelers, it is also descriptive, as the customs of the countries explored, that of how these customs were viewed by Western eyes.
It also shows that much remains to be discovered. And if Prevost prevailed a scientific approach, this is not the way we understand it today. The Consideration if there are Giants to Southern Lands, which appeared in Volume 68, is a good example.
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