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The Ex-Classics Web Site In Preparation A Tour in Lapland, by Carl Linnaeus In 1732 Linnaeus embarked on a journey to the far north of Sweden, an area considered as remote as Borneo by the sophisticates of Stockholm.  The major product of this expedition was Flora Lapponica, a detailed account of the plants of the region, in which he first made extensive use of his binominal system of plant nomenclature, which is now universal.  He also kept a journal in which he included his observations on the land, the people and their customs. Translated into English, it was published in 1808 under the title Lachesis Lapponica. A Revealed Knowledge, by John Wright In 1789, two seekers after religious truth, John Wright, carpenter, and William Bryan, engraver, were instructed by the spirit to go to Avignon in France and there meet a group of disciples of the mystic Emanuel Swedenborg. Despite having no money and no word of French, they set out and after various adventures reached their destination. They stayed there for seveal months. On their return, Wright published his account of their journey and what they had learned under the title  A revealed knowledge of some things that will speedily be fulfilled in the world, communicated to a number of Christians, brought together at Avignon, by the power of the spirit of God, from all nations. A Cromwellian Cookbook In 1665, a curious book called The Court and Kitchen of Elizabeth, Commonly Called Joan Cromwell, the Wife of the Late Usurper was published in London. It is a genuine cookery book but in addition to the recipes there is a great deal of anti-Cromwellian abuse interspersed with the recipes. See here for further details. Camden's Britannia First published in Latin in 1586, this immense tome was the first guidebook and gazeteer of Britain, or "chorography" in the language of the time. In his own words "I have attained to some skill of the most ancient British and Anglo-Saxon tongues; I have travelled over all England for the most part, I have conferred with most skilful observers in each county…. I have been diligent in the records of this realm. I have looked into most libraries, registers and memorials of churches, cities and corporations, I have pored upon many an old roll and evidence". The book was soon translated into English, and  was immensely popular in many subsequent translations and expanded editions. Part of our Gossip in a Library project -- see here for Gosse's article.

Extras Latest Additions In preparation All the books as one Zip file Ex-classics at Other Web Sites