1st Edition
Japan in Eighteenth-Century English Satirical Writings
This facsimile collection features eight satirical fictions from eighteenth-century Britain, which use Japan as their main setting. The authors of this fiction include Jonathan Swift, Tobias Smollett, and George Psalmanazar, the most famous literary fraud and imposter of the eighteenth century. English translations of various European works of the period which became very popular in England have also been included within this collection, which will be a valuable primary source to all students of eighteenth-century English literature, and those interested in the image of Japan and the Japanese held by British writers in the early Modern period.
Volume I
[c. 390pp.]
Psalmanazar, George
A Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa, ... giving an account of the religion, customs, manners, &c. of the inhabitants. Together with a relation of what happen’d to the author in his travels; particularly his conferences with the Jesuits, and others ... Also the history and reasons of his conversion to Christianity ... To which is prefix’d a preface in vindication of himself from the reflections of a Jesuit lately come from China ... Illustrated with several cuts.
(London, 1704), 356pp.
Anon.
Man Unmask’d: being a wonderful discovery lately made in the Island of Japan: written in the Japanese language by the Spirit of Contradiction, and translated into English ... by Sir Tristan Nerebegood, etc.,
(London, 1706), 32pp.
Volume II
[c. 420pp.]
Jolyot de Crebillion, Claude Prosper
The Skimmer; or, the history of Tanzai and Neadarne. [From the French of C. P. J. de C.],
(London, 1735), 415pp.
Volume III
[c. 270pp.]
Anon.
The Perseis; or, secret memoirs for a history of Persia. [Translated from the French.],
(London, 1745), 232pp.
Loon, Van, pseud
A fragment of the Japanese History: translated from the High Dutch of Mr Van Loon. With notes
(London, 1749), 24pp.
Volume IV
[c. 420pp.]
Swift, Jonathan
An account of the court and empire of Japan
(1765), 10pp.
Smollett, Tobias George
The history and adventures of an atom
(Dublin, 1769), 417pp.
Volume V
[c. 220pp.]
Anon.,
Civan, King of Bungo. [By J. M. Le Prince de Beaumont.] Translated from the French. By a young lady of fashion, not more than twelve years old
(Tamworth, 18
