1821, Hughes, Voyage à Janina en Albanie, par la Sicile et la Grèce.

Condition : good, corners slightly rubbed, minor holes in the ends of spine, slightly browned, foxing, pronounced on about 50 pages, 2 leaves with small marginal loss, a few small stains, without the title of the collection of the first volume. Overall a good copy.
Illustrations : engraved frontispiece portrait of Ali-Pasha.
Binding : contemporary half leather, gilt spine, marbled edges.
Volume : 2 volumes (in 1 volume).
Format : In-8.
Pages : 326 pp.; 351 pp.
Publisher : Paris, Gide Fils.
Date : 1821.
References : Brunet III, 364.

Rare first French edition. 

The Reverend Thomas Smart Hughes (1786-1847) was an excellent classical scholar and theologian, a Cambridge graduate. He travelled only once to the East, as tutor to R. T. Parker. The two travellers arrived in Zakynthos in 1812 and from there travelled to Patras. They visited a number of archaeological sites and major cities in the Peloponnese. Later, during their stay in Athens, they showed a keen interest in cultural life and education. In 1814 Hughes went to Ioannina in the company of R. Cockerell. He gives a detailed description of the mansion of their host Nicolos Argyris (Vrettos), where Lord Byron and Hobhouse had stayed four years earlier. They were able to talk to the local notables and Ali Pasha himself (Hughes describes with great emotion his first audience with the Vizier). He sketches the personality of Ali Pasha with insightful observations. At the same time, he is very judicious about the situation in "the land of the satrap", especially religious beliefs and education. Hughes had first-hand knowledge of the dramatic events in Parga and attempts to relate them with intent, aiming at an objective representation. A fervent philhellene, he was very active in supporting the Greek revolution later in London and published various pamphlets on the subject in the following years. His book, which came out in 1820, is written sensitively, without prejudice, and describes people and events in detail. It is considered a major travel chronicle of the time of Ali Pasha.