Author of "TRAVELS IN CIRCASSIA," &c.
"These important volumes appear at an opportune moment, as they describe
some of those countries to which public attention is now more
particularly directed: Turkey, Greece, Hungary, and Austria. The author
has given us a most interesting picture of the Turkish Empire, its
weaknesses, and the embarrassments from which it is now suffering, its
financial difficulties, the discontent of its Christian, and the
turbulence of a great portion of its Mohammedan subjects. We are also
introduced for the first time to the warlike mountaineers of Bosnia,
Albania, Upper Moesia, and the almost inaccessible districts of the
Pindus and the Balkan. The different nationalities of that Babel-like
country, Turkey in Europe, inhabited by Sclavonians, Greeks, Albanians,
Macedonians, the Romani and Osmanli--their various characteristics,
religions, superstitions, together with their singular customs and
manners, their ancient and contemporary history are vividly described.
The Ionian Islands, Greece, Hungary, and the Sclavonian Provinces of
Austria on the Lower Danube, are all delineated in the author's happiest
manner.
"We cordially recommend Mr. Spencer's valuable and interesting volumes
to the attention of the reader. They are replete with information upon
countries of which we know but little; they will be interesting to the
military man for the details they give of the strength and defensive
positions of the various countries through which the author travelled;
to the merchant for the insight given into the state of trade; and to
the man of the world as they place before his view the present political
and social state of an empire, whose welfare it is the interest of
England to promote. The work must be considered a standard production,
enriched, as it is, by an excellent map derived from the most authentic
modern charts, added to, and improved by the observations of the author
during his travels."--_United Service Magazine._
"A work of great merit, and of paramount present interest."--_Standard._
"This interesting work contains by far the most complete, the most
enlightened, and the most reliable amount of what has been hitherto
almost the terra incognita of European Turkey, and supplies the reader
with abundance of entertainment as well as instruction."--_John Bull._
"An excellent and admirable work. Mr. Spencer is a very able writer, a
shrewd, experienced and philosophical observer, an eminently thinking
and yet practical man. His work forms the most valuable addition that
our literature has lately received. He sets forth to inquire and learn:
he returns to inform and suggest; and information most valuable and
interesting has he here bestowed upon us."--_Tait's Magazine._