The first work of the great French journalist Louis-Sébastien Mercier, this foundational text of travel writing remained unpublished for over 200 years.

Mercier was the first to travel to London and began recording his impressions in 1780. As an example of a new form of journalistic, reflective literature, he presented emotional portrayals of the city as collections of experiences, customs, and personalities. In contrast to Dickens' London or Baudelaire's Paris, with their contradictions of luxury and misery, Mercier describes a less well-known urban environment – perhaps more optimistic, even utopian. His version of London is, in fact, a projection of his philosophical imagination – not just a complete portrait but also a reflection of what he hoped Paris would become.

For this first English edition, the translation by Laurent Turcot and Jonathan Conlin captures the life and humor of Mercier's writing. It is illustrated with contemporary images, emphasizing Thomas Rowlandson and Gabriel-Jacques de Saint-Aubin, the first Parisian artist-walkers.

Pages: 284, Year of Publication: 1014, Dimensions: 19.5x19.5cm