Rambles in Germany and Italy in 1840, 1842, and 1843 by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is a mid-19th-century travelogue composed of personal letters that document her journey through Italy and Germany. This work vividly captures landscapes alongside insightful reflections on the cultures, politics, and people she encounters. At the beginning of the book, Shelley expresses her excitement about returning to Italy after years marked by loss and solitude. With her son and friends, she sets off to explore beautiful locations like Lake Como, sharing her intentions and reflecting on the contrast between her past happiness and her present life. Through careful observations of the diverse landscapes and rich cultural experiences in France and Germany, she reveals her deep understanding of Italy’s unique spirit and historical burdens. This travel narrative captures the joy of exploration while also delving into profound themes of memory, identity, and national character, as Shelley contends with her health and inner conflicts.

PREFACE.

PART I.?1840.

LETTER I. PROJECT FOR SPENDING THE SUMMER ON THE BANKS OF THE LAKE OF COMO.?FINE SPRING.?STORMY WEATHER.?PASSAGE FROM DOVER TO CALAIS.?THE DILIGENCE.?PARIS.?PLAN OF OUR ROUTE
LETTER II. JOURNEY TO METZ.?A DAY SPENT AT METZ.?PROCEED TO TREVES.?ENTER PRUSSIA.?TREVES.?VOYAGE DOWN THE MOSELLE.?SLOW STEAMBOAT UP THE RHINE TO MAYENCE.?RAILROAD TO FRANCFORT
LETTER III. DARMSTADT.?HEIDELBERG.?CARLSRUHE.?BADEN-BADEN
LETTER IV. OFFENBERG.?ETTENHEIM.?FREYBURG.?THE HOLLENTHAL.?THE BLACK FOREST.?ARRIVE AT SCHAFFHAUSEN
LETTER V. THE RHINE.?ZURICH.?JOURNEY TO COIRE.?VIA MALA.?THE SPLUGEN.?CHIAVENNA.?COLICO.?THE STEAMBOAT ON THE LAKE OF COMO TO CADENABBIA
LETTER VI. ALBERGO GRANDE DELLA CADENABBIA.?THE BROTHERS BRENTANI.?THE VIEW FROM OUR WINDOWS.?THE MADMAN.?ARRIVAL OF THE BOAT
LETTER VII. EXCURSIONS ON THE LAKE.?MANZONI’S ODE OF “CINQUE MAGGIO”
LETTER VIII. VOYAGE TO COMO.?THE OPERA.?WALK TOWARDS MENAGGIO
LETTER IX. ITALIAN POETRY.?ITALIAN MASTER.?THE COUNTRY PEOPLE.?THE FULCINO.?GRAND FESTA.?ADIEU TO CADENABBIA
LETTER X. VOYAGE TO LECCO.?BERGAMO.?THE OPERA OF “MOSE.”?MILAN
LETTER XI. NON-ARRIVAL OF A LETTER.?DEPARTURE OF MY FRIENDS.?SOLITUDE.?THE DUOMO.?TABLE D’HOTE.?AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT
LETTER XII. DEPARTURE FROM MILAN.?JOURNEY ACROSS THE SIMPLON.?LAKE OF GENEVA.?LYONS.?STEAMBOAT TO CHALONS.?DILIGENCE TO PARIS.?HISTORY OF THE EVENTFUL JOURNEY ACROSS MONT ST. GOTHARD

PART II.?1842.

LETTER I. STEAM VOYAGE TO AMSTERDAM.?RUBENS’ PICTURE OF THE DESCENT FROM THE CROSS.?VARIOUS MISADVENTURES.?LIEGE.?COLOGNE.?COBLENTZ.?MAYENCE.?FRANCFORT
LETTER II. JOURNEY TO KISSINGEN.?TAKING LODGINGS.?THE PUBLIC GARDENS
LETTER III.
KISSINGEN.?THE CUR.?THE TABLE D’HOTE.?THE WALKS.?GERMAN MASTER.?BATHING
LETTER IV. MEDICAL TREATMENT.?AMUSEMENTS.?GERMAN MASTER.?BROKLET.?PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE
LETTER V.
LEAVE KISSINGEN.?BATHS OF BRUKENAU.?FULDA.?EISENACH.?CASTLE OF WARTBURGH.?GOTHA.?ERFURT.?WEIMAR.?THE ELSTER.?LEIPSIG
LETTER VI. RAILROAD TO BERLIN.?UNTER-DEN-LINDEN.?GALLERY.?PALACE.?MUSEUM.?OPERA.?IRON FOUNDRY
LETTER VII. ARRIVAL AT DRESDEN.?RABENAU.?GALLERY AT DRESDEN.?MADONNA DI SAN SISTO.?PICTURES OF CORREGGIO
LETTER VIII. RABENAU.?THE GALLERY.?THE TERRACE OF BRUHL.?THE GROSSE GARTEN.?THE GREAT HEAT
LETTER IX. THE GREEN VAULTS.?COLLECTION OF PORCELAIN.?DER FREISCHUTZ.?THE GREAT DROUGHT.?PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE
LETTER X. THE SAXON SWITZERLAND
LETTER XI. BATHS AT TOPLITZ.?LOBOSITZ.?ARRIVAL AT PRAGUE

END OF VOL. I.