Description

Paul et Virginie (1787), an adolescent love story set in an exotic Indian Ocean island, was one of the literary sensations of the age. It was a huge critical and commercial success in France and abroad, a precursor of the Romantic movement. The novel's author, Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, had previously spent 28 months in the French colony of Ile de France (now Mauritius) in 1778-80. This extended exposure to the island not only inspired Paul et Virginie, but also led to one of the period's fullest and most fascinating accounts of a colonial society and its daily life.

First published in 1773, Voyage'a L'Isle de France is now available in this newly translated and annotated edition -- Journey to Mauritius. Mixing indignation with a lyrical appreciation of the island's beauty, Bernardin provides us with one of the earliest examples of a walking guide as he details Mauritius' sights and landscapes. An introduction sets this travel account in its historical context, discussing Bernardin's life and ideas.