Travel, Traveling Writing, and British Political Economy: Instructions for Travellers, circa 1750-1850

The book explores how European travelers and political economists adapted British political economists' work to organize observations and analyze societies, challenging questions about the status of facts and evidence and the determination of wealth, value, and happiness. It also highlights the gendered boundaries between domestic economy and British political economy and the role of women in social scientific observation.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 200 pages
\n Publication date: 01 January 2021
\n Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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The book delves into a captivating exploration of how European travelers, particularly Alexander von Humboldt and his readers during the period spanning approximately 1750 to 1850, adapted the works of British political economists like Adam Smith to organize their observations. In turn, political economists utilized the travelers' observations in their own analyses.

Cooper's meticulous examination encompasses a wide range of sources, including journals, letters, books, art, and critical reviews. Through these diverse materials, he skillfully highlights the profound questions that contemporaries raised about political economy. These inquiries delve into the status of facts and evidence, the universal applicability of its principles, and the determination of wealth, value, and happiness across different societies.

One particularly intriguing aspect of the book is its analysis of how travelers, influenced by the population principle articulated by T.R. Malthuss, blurred the gendered boundaries between domestic economy and British political economy. This blurring occurred through the idealized subjects of domestic woman and economic man, which were seen as embodying the principles of British political economy.

The book also unveils new dimensions in the histories of science by delving into debates about gender in social scientific observation. It highlights the roles played by figures such as Maria Edgeworth, Maria Graham, and Harriet Martineau, who observed and methodically interpreted aspects associated with women. This act, traditionally reserved for men in theory, sheds light on the evolving perspectives and contributions of women to the field of social science.

In conclusion, "The Traveler's Economy" is a groundbreaking work that offers a rich and multifaceted perspective on the intersection of economics, literature, and science during the early 19th century. Through its meticulous analysis and insightful revelations, it provides valuable insights into the ways in which European travelers, political economists, and social scientists grappled with fundamental questions about the nature of knowledge, society, and the pursuit of happiness. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of ideas, the evolution of economic thought, and the role of gender in shaping intellectual discourse.

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Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781138019508\n \n