19th-century Odessa as seen through the eyes of an analyst

The new edition of *Odessa and Political Horizons on the Eve of the Crimean War: Notes by Lawrence Oliphant* was presented at the Bookstore-Café at 77 Yevropeiska Street.

Over a cup of coffee, guests leafed through the pages of the Ukrainian translation of the book, explored the travel notes of the English traveler, and discussed the ethnographic mysteries of the South.

Lawrence Oliphant was a British diplomat, traveler, and writer. He became famous for his adventurous journeys and analytical books. His notes on a journey to the Crimea and the Black Sea on the eve of the Crimean War became a true bestseller of his time. The travel diary was published in London and Edinburgh in 1853.

In his notes, “The Russian Shores of the Black Sea in the Fall of 1852, with a Journey up the Volga and through the Land of the Don Cossacks,” Lawrence Oliphant explores “Russia as it is,” rather than as it wishes to appear to the world. A perceptive analyst, he described the military fortifications, logistics, economic conditions, and landscapes of the lands he traveled through. He portrayed Odessa as a young city with European ambitions and free-trade rights. The book also contains ethnographic essays on the Tatars, Circassians, and Crimean Tatars.

This publication is the latest addition to the “Odessa Through the Eyes of Foreigners” series at the M. Hrushevsky Odessa Regional Universal Scientific Library.

The Bookstore-Café also hosted a presentation of William Burkhardt Barker’s book *Odessa and Its Inhabitants Through the Eyes of an English Prisoner in Russia*. This publication is part of the “Odessa Through the Eyes of Foreigners” series. It reflects the author’s perspective on the people of Odessa in the 19th century.

On March 13, a book from the same series was presented—a description of Odessa through the eyes of Robert Stevens, an American from the early 19th century. Across 30 pages, the author compiled excerpts from Charles Sicard’s letters about the founding of Odessa, its climate, and its rapid population growth. The book analyzes the benefits of cooperation with the city for American entrepreneurs.

By visiting the Bookstore-Café at 77 Yevropeiska Street, you’ll not only support Ukrainian books and the local cultural scene but also independent journalism—after all, the project was created as a way to support independent media.

Юлія Калабайда

Odessa on the eve of the Crimean War of the 19th century, as seen through the eyes of an analyst

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