First edition of a delightful and important travel book by James Boswell (1740-1795), best known as the friend and biographer of Samuel Johnson. His first major publication, it includes a journal of his 1765 visit to the new Republic of Corsica, which had declared its independence from the Republic of Genoa in 1755, as well as his memoires of the Republics founding father and president, Pasquale Paoli (1725-1807). Boswells book made the new republic and its leader famous and helped give them legitimacy. Two-and-a-half months after Boswells book appeared, Genoa, unable to conquer Corsica, sold its claim to France, which invaded and conquered it in 1769. Boswells book proved so popular that three more editions appeared before the end of 1768. It is divided into two parts, the first giving a detailed description and history of Corsica, and the second containing a journal of Boswell's voyage to and travels on the island. It was especially this latter part that excited the public, being a lively account of Boswell's quixotic adventures in Corsica and his association with President Paoli.
Boswell enjoyed his role as promoter of Corsica's interests so much that he appeared in Corsican costume at Garrick's anniversary party in honour of Shakespeare at Stratford-on-Avon in 1769. Johnson said about Boswell's book: "Your History is like other histories, but your Journal is in a very high degree curious and delightful". The large folding map, newly made for Boswell's account by his servant Thomas Phinn and dated 1768, is one of the rare maps solely devoted to the island. The book was translated within a few years into Dutch, German, French, and Italian.
With the armorial bookplate of Benjamin Hartley Foote on the front pastedown. Rebacked, small tear in the map, occasional foxing and browning. Otherwise in good condition. Cox I, pp. 138-139; ESTC T26157; Gaskell, Foulis press 473; Pottle 24; Rothschild 442; cf. Lowndes, Bibliogr. manual of Engl. lit. I, p. 242 (1st ed.).