Narrative of a pedestrian journey through Russia and Siberian Tartary, from the frontiers of China to the Frozen sea and Kamtchatka, performed during the years 1820, 1821, 1822, and 1823

by John Dundas Cochrane, T.S. Wentworth (Foreword)

This book, from the series Primary Sources: Historical Books of the World (Asia and Far East Collection), represents an important historical artifact on Asian history and culture. Its contents come from the legions of academic literature and research on the subject produced over the last several hundred years. Covered within is a discussion drawn from many areas of study and research on the subject. From analyses of the varied geography that encompasses the Asian continent to significant time periods spanning centuries, the book was made in an effort to preserve the work of previous generations.

Genres: Russia

370 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2011

About the author

Captain John Dundas Cochrane was a Scottish officer in the Royal Navy, traveller and explorer. An illegitimate son of Scottish MP, army-commander and swindler Andrew Cochrane-Johnstone, John Dundas Cochrane came from extensive naval and army family - he was a cousin of Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, and nephew of Admiral Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane.

After being placed on half-pay by the Royal Navy, following a short career at sea, John Dundas Cochrane made journeys into Spain and Portugal, before applying to the Admiralty to explore the River Niger in Africa. Being refused permission, he then decided to walk across Europe and Russia, in an attempt to reach North America. He set off in February 1822, crossing France and Germany before reaching St. Petersburg in April. Continuing his journey eastwards, on foot, boat and horseback, he eventually reached Kolymsk in January 1821. Here he learned that the Bering Straits separated Russia from North America, so he decided to go to Kamchatka instead. He reached the peninsula in August 1821, and stayed there until July 1822. In January, he married, and then he and his wife set off back to St. Petersburg in July 1822. Cochrane himself made a short exploratory journey to Kyakhta and the frontier with Mongolia, briefly leaving his wife in Irkutsk. After many hardships, the couple arrived back in St. Petersburg in June 1823, and returned by ship to London. He published an account of his travels in his Narrative of a Pedestrian Journey through Russian and Siberian Tartary to the Frontiers of China, the Frozen Sea and Kamtchatka (1823).

In June 1824, he travelled to South America, possibly to join his cousin Charles Stuart Cochrane who was involved in Simon Bolivar's struggles for independence. John returned to London in early 1825 to prepare the third edition of his book. Again leaving his wife alone in London, he then returned to South America in the summer of 1825, planning either to oversee work at his family's copper-mining interests in South America and/or to walk the length of the Andes mountains. He died of a fever on 12 August 1825 in Valencia, Colombia.

Reviews

[Will Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit of a slow burn but then most of it is him sliding through Russia on a sled so hard to make that interesting

[Veronique · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Dundas Cochrane était un fou de marche, une force de la nature. Son récit est presque aussi monotone que les plaines de la Sibérie mais parfois aussi stupéfiant. Il décrit un monde en construction, une Russie qui se découvre et se crée.

[Cooper Lindstrom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m glad I read this book but it definitely was hard to read and not exactly the genre I usually enjoy. How the journey is followed is hard to comprehend at times but also really puts into perspective how amazing it can be to travel on your own in new places.