"Guide to Belfast, Giant's Causeway & the North, compiled by Robert Esler and published by Wm. Strain & Sons in Belfast in 1884, was prepared especially for visitors attending the British Medical Association's Belfast meeting that year. The book serves as both a practical travel guide and a cultural introduction to Northern Ireland's most notable attractions, offering detailed descriptions of the city of Belfast—its streets, public buildings, and institutions—alongside itineraries for excursions to the Giant's Causeway, Carrickfergus, Antrim, and other scenic or historical sites. Esler's writing blends local pride with the informative tone of a professional guidebook, aiming to acquaint visitors with the geography, history, and social life of Ulster's industrial and natural landscape.

Beyond its immediate purpose as a visitor's handbook, the guide captures a vivid snapshot of late Victorian Belfast at the height of its prosperity and civic confidence. It highlights the city's commercial vigor, educational achievements, and growing reputation as a centre of science and industry, while also celebrating the romantic beauty and geological wonder of the Antrim coast. Illustrated with maps and practical notes on transport and accommodation, Esler's Guide stands as a charming period document that reflects both the hospitality and self-assured modernity of Northern Ireland in the 1880s, balancing scientific curiosity with the spirit of travel and exploration."

Size 19cm x 12.5cm x 1.5cm - 123 Pages + Advertising