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A collection of letters documenting an exploratory voyage to Iceland, written by a Swedish archbishop and first published in 1780.
List of contents
Introduction; 1. On the effects of fire in Iceland; 2. Of Iceland in general; 3. On the constitution of the country; 4. Of the arrival of the Norwegians, the government and laws in Iceland; 5. Concerning ecclesiastical affairs in Iceland; 6. Of the character and manner of life of the Icelanders; 7. Of the dress of the Icelanders; 8. Of the houses and buildings of the Icelanders; 9. Of the food of the Icelanders; 10. Of the employment of the Icelanders, and their chronology; 11. Of the diseases of Iceland; 12. Of fishing and fowling, and the breed of cattle in Iceland; 13. Of the trade of Iceland; 14. Of Icelandic literature; 15. Of printing in Iceland; 16. Of the remains of antiquity in Iceland; 17. Of Icelandic poetry; 18. Of the volcanos in Iceland; 19. The subject continued; 20. Of Mount Heckla; 21. Of the hot spouting water springs in Iceland; 22. Of the pillars of basalt; to which is subjoined Mr. Bank's curious account of the island of Staffa; 23. From Chev. Ihre to Dr. Troil, concerning the Edda; 24. From Chev. Bach to Dr. Troil, of the Icelandic Elephantiasis; 25. From Prof. Bergman to Dr. Troil, of the effects of fire both at the volcanos and the hot springs, and also of the basaltes.
Summary
Swedish archbishop Uno von Troil (1746–1803) accompanied the famous naturalist Sir Joseph Banks on an expedition to Iceland in 1772. This book, first published in 1780, is a collection of the amiable and descriptive letters von Troil wrote, documenting his observations on the island's geography, culture and religion.
