Korea and Her Neighbors: A Narrative of Travel, with an Account of the Recent Vicissitudes and Present Position of the Country, Volume 2

by Isabella Lucy Bird

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

560 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1898

About the author

Isabella Lucy Bird Bishop (October 15, 1831 – October 7, 1904) was a nineteenth-century English traveller, writer, and a natural historian.

Works:
* The Englishwoman in America (1856)
* Pen and Pencil Sketches Among The Outer Hebrides (published in The Leisure Hour) (1866)
* The Hawaiian Archipelago (1875)
* The Two Atlantics (published in The Leisure Hour) (1876)
* Australia Felix: Impressions of Victoria and Melbourne (published in The Leisure Hour) (1877)
* A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains (1879)
* Unbeaten Tracks in Japan (1880)
* Sketches In The Malay Peninsula (published in The Leisure Hour) (1883)
* The Golden Chersonese and the way Thither (1883)
* A Pilgrimage To Sinai (published in The Leisure Hour) (1886)
* Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan (1891)
* Among the Tibetans (1894)
* Korea and her Neighbours (1898)
* The Yangtze Valley and Beyond (1899)
* Chinese Pictures (1900)
* Notes on Morocco (published in the Monthly Review) (1901)

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing adventure undertaken by the inveterate Isabella Bird. She spent three years in and around Korea, witnessing the beginnings of a war between Japan and China, over control of Korea. She witnessed the unscrupulous "squeezing" of the Korean peasant and its resulting torpor. She saw dirt and grime and muck and disrepair. In this book, she describes not only her travels, but Korean marriage customs (the bride isn't allowed to speak for three weeks after marriage), treatment of women (completely secluded and unable to go outside or meet men), the lack of religion (except an extensive demonology), and much more. She is addressed as "honorable devil" at one point. The Japanese are referred to as "dwarves" by the Koreans. Fascinating read.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

must read again (for a future project). I am not sure if I like Bishop's oft condescending way of speaking. it's interesting to see that a traveller in the 19th century is not simply an individual out on a leisurely adventure.

[Melanie Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored reading this book while living in Korea. It was fascinating to look through Bird's eyes, however narrow her sight might have been at times.