Status Updates From Gleanings in Europe: The Rh...

In the bowels of Switzerland and exploring the St Bernard Monastery, a place Cooper called “Rum” which is old British slang for “strange or odd”

Intermixed with the rather boring descriptions of walking along a lake or the ever present movement of him and his companions are truly spectacular descriptions of the scenery and nature. But mostly it’s a book of rambling about roads, hotels, and carriages.

We’re finally in Switzerland after traversing a plethora of German principalities. Cooper is finally beginning to describe landscapes and does so in a much better tone than he does cityscapes, but the contrast is great to see.

Nowwwww we’re on the Rhine. James has a knack for relaying fun little stories between the moments of travel on the road and river. Still I find this book quite hard to read and can only get through so many pages in one sitting before the voice in my head starts sounding like Benjamin Franklin in a colonial accent.

I have found myself rereading while pages to simply digest what James is saying here. His speech is otherwordly to the english of today. While that is not a negative thing, it surly is foreign to me and I enjoy the challange of reading this book.

Its taking a long time to ajust to the cadence and speech of Mr Cooper as few in modern times speak with such richness and meaning. His descriptions of Lafayette have made me realize I hardly know who the man is besides his name.

A most wonderful historical introduction to the times, methods, and context for the stage of life Mr cooper was in at the time of this book being written. I’m struck by his immense vocabulary and the tactile nature he can recall and describe meetings with officials and friends alike.
I think this book should also fall under “slice of life” literature for the wonderfully rich descriptions of life in Paris.