BARETTI, Giuseppe. An Introduction to the Most Useful European Languages, Consisting of Select Passages, from the Most Celebrated English, French, Italian, and Spanish authors. With translations as close as possible; so disposed, in columns, as to give in one view the manner of expressing the same sentence in each language. Intended for the use of foreigners, merchants, and gentlemen who make the knowledge of those languages their study. London: Printed for T. Davies; and T. Cadell, 1772
Contemporary tree calf, neatly rebacked, with gilt morocco label. , [8], 469 pp. , Text in two columns, to demonstrate how two different language versions of a work compare. Half-title bound after title-page.
Some light foxing, early ownerÕs signature on title-page. A very good copy., Baretti (1719-1789) was a professor of English at the University of Turin before he settled permanently in England in 1751. An eminent philologist, he wrote an important Italian/English dictionary (1760), as well as an Italian grammar, plus several European travel books. He wrote in French an essay ÒOn Shakespeare and Voltaire,Ó in which he exposes VoltaireÕs ignorance of the English language and literature. Samuel Johnson was his close friend, contributing to some of BarettiÕs books. In the present book, Baretti includes translations of JohnsonÕs Rasselas, pp. 188-256.
$US750
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