An Introduction to the Most Useful European Languages, Consisting of Select Passages, from the Most Celebrated English, French, Italian, and Spanish authors. With translations as close as possible; so disposed, in columns, as to give in one view the manner of expressing the same sentence in each language. Intended for the use of foreigners, merchants, and gentlemen who make the knowledge of those languages their study.
London: Printed for T. Davies; and T. Cadell, 1772. First edition. Text in two columns, to demonstrate how two different language versions of a work compare. Half-title bound after title-page. Some light foxing, early owner’s signature on title-page. A very good copy. Contemporary tree calf, neatly rebacked, with gilt morocco label. Octavo. [8], 469 pp. Item #7158
Baretti (1719-1789) was a professor of English at the University of Turin before he settled permanently in England in 1751. An eminent philologist, he wrote an important Italian/English dictionary (1760), as well as an Italian grammar, plus several European travel books. He wrote in French an essay “On Shakespeare and Voltaire,” in which he exposes Voltaire’s ignorance of the English language and literature. Samuel Johnson was his close friend, contributing to some of Baretti’s books. In the present book, Baretti includes translations of Johnson’s Rasselas, pp. 188-256.
Price: $750.00