The Relazione d’un viaggio rapidamente fatto in Turchia e in Persia nel 1807: a Serialized Account in the «Annali di Scienze e Lettere»

Abstract

This article offers a critical reading of the first of five Lettere d’un uffiziale francese contenenti la relazione d’un viaggio rapidamente fatto in Turchia e in Persia nel 1807. This narrative appendix was serialized in the «Annali di Scienze e Lettere», edited by Giovanni Rasori and Ugo Foscolo (1810-1813). In addition to aligning with the period’s fascination with travel literature, these letters provide an interesting portrayal of the foreign peoples encountered by the protagonist throughout his journey across Ottoman and Persian territories. This representation is particularly significant when examined alongside other anthropological contributions published in the journal and Foscolo’s contemporary reflections on the subject.