246 pp, 8vo (8 1/4" H), hard cover in dust jacket. "Alexandre Dumas was a young man of thirty when he made an extended (and politically necessary) trip to Switzerland. In Paris he had already scored a certain success of scandal and sensation with his Romantic plays. But it was with his first travel book that he received the serious critical praise that foreshadowed his later success in the historical novel of adventure....Having just survived an attack of cholera and an accidental glassful of ether, Dumas had taken a week to write a very profitable play, made more imaginative by his delerium. At this point a mistaken newssheet account of his arrest and execution made it clear that a trip out of the country was in order. It was the e nsuing trip to Switzerland which provided the basis of this book. Villages, towns and cities, sights and scenes and people met along the way - all are the matter of masterful description and humorous anecdote. Whether fishing in an icy mount a i n s t ream, visiting the morgue of the Grande Chartreuse, or merely chatting with other guests at an inn, Dumas found inspiration for a facile pen....More than an account of a journey, 'Adventures in Switzerland' is a rare collection of anecdot e an d h um or ." Very light browning and very tiny foxing marks on top of textblock, minor wrinkling at top/bottom of spine. Dust jacket haslight edge wrinkling - mainly at top/bottom of spine, very light browning to edges, light rubbing/soiling - mai nl y on rea r panel, small light blue rub mark on front panel. Very Good/Very Good-

ALEXANDRE DUMAS JOURNEYS GENEVA FISHING SALT MINES BEX BEARS