This antiquarian volume contains a vivid description of nineteenth century Korea written by Isabella Bird Bishop. This account comprises an interesting and insightful narrative of travel, with an account of the vicissitudes and contemporary state of society in the country. This text is as much of an exploration of Victorian mindsets as it is an exploration of foreign lands, and will be of considerable value to those with an interest in Victorian travelling mentality, or Korea at this point in history. The chapters of this book include: 'First Impressions of Korea'; 'First Impressions of the Capital'; 'The Kur-Dong'; 'Soul, The Korean Mecca'; 'The Sailing of the Sampan'; 'On The River of Golden Sand'; 'Views Afloat'; 'Natural Beauty – The Rapids'; 'Korean Marriage Customs', etcetera. We are republishing this vintage book now complete with a new prefatory biography of the author.

In Korea and Her Neighbours, written in two volumes between 1894 and 1897, Isabella Bird documents one of the most critical and interesting periods of Korean history. Violently torn from centuries of seclusion, this fragile nation awoke to find itself confronted on all sides by an array of powerful, ambitious, and aggressive countries clamoring for commercial and political concessions - a rivalry which, at this time, made Korea the battlefield of the first Sino-Japanese war. In the midst of political turmoil and international intrigue, the author offers an extraordinarily accurate description of almost every facet of the country covering such topics as the climate, geography, the living conditions of the people, the structure of government, indigenous religions, customs, and foreign trade treaties. Included is a chilling description of the assassination of Korea's queen, and an account of Isabella Bird's undaunted travels in Manchuria, China, and Russia, where she reported on the military tension at the Korean borders.