Translated by G.C.T. Bartley
From The German Of Karl Stieler, H. Wachenhusen and F.W. Hacklander
Published by Bickers And Son: London 1878 1st Edition
"
The Rhine: From Its Source to the Sea (London: Bickers and Son, 1878), translated by G. C. T. Bartley from the works of Karl Stieler, H. Wachenhusen, and F. W. Hackländer, is a richly descriptive travel and cultural study tracing the course of the Rhine River from its Alpine origins in Switzerland to its mouth on the North Sea. Blending geography, history, and romantic observation, the authors guide the reader through the river's changing landscapes—snow-capped mountain valleys, medieval towns, vineyards, and castle-crowned cliffs—while exploring the people and traditions along its banks. The book captures the Rhine as both a natural wonder and a powerful symbol of European identity, intertwining vivid travel narrative with legend, folklore, and poetic reflection.
The English translation preserves the lyrical tone and scholarly breadth of the original German texts, introducing Victorian readers to one of Europe's most storied waterways at a time of growing interest in continental travel and cultural heritage. Lavishly illustrated and elegantly printed, the volume evokes the Rhine not merely as a river, but as a historical and artistic artery uniting multiple nations. It celebrates the Rhine's role in commerce, politics, and myth, presenting it as a thread connecting ancient civilization with modern progress. As both travelogue and cultural portrait, The Rhine: From Its Source to the Sea stands as a quintessential 19th-century work of European romantic geography—combining factual observation with the spirit of wonder that defined its age."
