The Washington Irving Library

Tales of a Traveller Section 14 - Buckthorne; or, the Young Man of Great Expectations, Part One

In which a young gentleman of modest means but lofty hopes recounts his early years marked by a stern education, tender maternal affection, and a heartfelt but ill-fated boyish romance. His visits to a miserly uncle’s desolate estate mingle with his poetic inclinations and solitary musings amidst the wildness of both nature and human eccentricity.

Tales of a Traveller Section 13 - Poor Devil Author, Part Two

In which a young literary aspirant, inspired by the rural charms near London and the heroic tales of ancient English rogues, embarks upon a poetic venture centred on the notorious rebel Jack Straw, only to find his romantic enthusiasm abruptly challenged by a most unwelcome encounter on a former highwayman’s haunt. As he recounts the humbling vicissitudes of an author’s life—the shifting fortunes from inspired dreams to humble writing for hire—the narrative gently reveals the sober realities beneath the romantic veneer of literary ambition.

Tales of a Traveller Section 12 - Poor Devil Author, Part One

In which a young aspiring poet, buoyed by the enthusiastic praise of his rustic literary circle, ventures to London with lofty expectations of publishing glory, only to find the book world indifferent and his fortunes dwindling. Seeking solace and inspiration, he retreats to historically poetic retreats near the city, only to be thwarted by the noisy realities of popular life and distracted by the pastoral scents of summer.

Tales of a Traveller Section 11 - Club of Queer Fellows

In which a stroll through the labyrinthine courts near Covent Garden leads to an encounter with a lively and spirited club of modest wits and actors, where the playful yet poignant contrast between public and private faces of an author emerges with gentle humour. The scene then shifts to the modest lodging of an old schoolmate, revealing the humbler haunts of literary endeavour and the enduring bonds of youthful camaraderie amidst the bustling, tangled heart of London.

Tales of a Traveller Section 9 - Literary Life

In which a traveller encounters the eccentric Buckthorne, who offers a whimsical and candid account of the various literary circles of London, comparing them to rival systems in a celestial firmament. He imparts his shrewd observations on the delicate arts of literary society, advising on the cautious navigation of praise and critique within these exclusive gatherings.