Rasselas (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
At a glance:
- Author: Samuel Johnson
- First Published: 1759
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Philosophical
- Time of Work: Eighteenth century
- Genres: Long fiction, Philosophical realism
- Subjects: Africa or Africans, Philosophy or philosophers, Escapes, Marriage, Eighteenth century, Inheritance or succession, Egypt or Egyptians, Princes or princesses
- Locales: Cairo, Egypt, Abyssinia
Places Discussed
Happy Valley. Imaginary place in Africa, vaguely located in the mountains of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), a country that interested Samuel Johnson because his first published work had been a translation of a travel book about it. This fantastical and ideal location contains flora, fauna, human government, and even architecture that are all meant to represent nature as it should be. The valley is an advanced and highly civilized Eden. A key feature in the valley is a palace, or huge house, of many mysterious rooms; the valley also contains rugged and various...
[The entire page is 750 words long]
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