The Young Rifleman's Comrade: A Narrative of His Military Adventures, Captivity, and Shipwreck

First English edition. Henry Colburn. London. 1826. Octavo. xxiv, 310pp. Half title present. Half calf, contemporary marbled boards and tips, later rebacking, spine in six compartments, elegant gilt, original leather label. Light shelf wear, tips rubbed. Small historic hole to p289, text unaffected. Historic bookseller's catalogue slip loosely inserted.

Edited by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) "There is not a more pleasing method of recalling the past, than by the contemplation of individual realities", from the preface which is included here together with a dedication by the English translator to the author of Faust.

"Born in France, the author fled the French Revolution as a boy and later served as a soldier in Spain during the Peninsular War. He later travelled to Naples, where he entered the British Army. He later joined the Royal Navy and in 1818 he served on the Cabalva, which made an attempted voyage to China but was shipwrecked near Mauritius, which the crew eventually succeeded in reaching." Copac.

The narrative begins with the French Revolution, continuing to the Peninsular War, Cabrera "the poorest of the Balearic Islands", Corsica, Sicily, England, service aboard the "ill fated" East Indiaman Cabalva, under Captain Dalrymple, and the subsequent shipwreck in the Indian Ocean in 1818, survival on the Cardagos Garagos shoals, and return to England via St Helena, and then home.

The translator, considered to be the Peninsular War and Waterloo veteran Sir John Kincaid (1787-1862) notes "we are at a loss to know how much of this book may belong absolutely and bona-fide to the illustrious writer by whom it has been introduced to the world. With regard to the eloquence displayed in various parts, that is not much to the purpose, since of course the style would receive a tinge from the glowing imagination of the editor: but it must be confessed that, at times, the elevation of sentiment and refinement of taste displayed by the Rifleman seem somewhat beyond the sphere of his alleged rank" p. xvii-xviii

Copac 4 copies only recorded in the UK: British Library Register of Preservation Surrogates, Oxford University, Cambridge University, Kings College London.

Sandler 2216; Speck 2337