The Nile without a Dragoman

London: Henry S. King, 1871. SECOND EDITION. Half-morocco over textured boards, gilt stamp of Royal Engineers Library on front cover, edges and corners worn; text slightly toned but clean. Signature of Harry Hashmall on first free endpaper (dated ’33) and stamp of the Library of Royal Engineers on title page. In this second edition narrative, Eden recounts his unique and fascinating journey down the Nile without the aid of a guide. Sent to Egypt for his declining health in 1869, Eden was unable to afford the luxuries of a ‘dragoman’ (an Egyptian guide and negotiator) and instead rented a riverboat and sailed alone to Wadi Halfa (now Sudan). What would otherwise be a conventional travel account is detailed with humor and entertainment as Eden navigates his way around a foreign land with little money and experience.

Eden (1828-1916), who lived in Venice, was the great-uncle of the British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden and was better known for a book he later published on his gardens that was said to inspire Proust, Cocteau, Hardy and Henry James.