or The Journeys, Adventures, andImprisonments
of an Englishman, in an Attempt to
circulate the Scriptures in the Peninsula
by
GEORGE BORROW
cassell andcompany, ltd.
london, paris, newyork,
toronto & melbourne
mcmviii
Blessed with a magnificent physique, and an unswerving beliefin God’s beneficence; endowed with “the gift oftongues” and a cheerful disposition, George Borrow was wellequipped for life. That he was called to be a Bible Societymissionary was surely a curious turn of fortune. The son ofa Militia captain, whose duties took him about the country,Borrow early acquired the taste for a roving life, and it musthave been a severe hardship to him when, at the age of sixteen,he was articled to a Norwich firm of solicitors. Indeed, itwould almost appear that the gypsy spirit was quenched, for onthe completion of his five years he was engaged as literary hackto Phillips, the London publisher. But after a year or sothe “call of the wild” came, and Borrow eagerlyresponded. What happened is not really known, though muchof his gypsy life is pictured in Lavengro.
In 1832 he commenced his work for the Bible Society, and thenext year went as its representative to Russia. He stayedthere until 1835, when he was ordered to Spain andPortugal. In spite of their adventurous nature, the fiveyears there spent were described by Borrow as “the mosthappy years of my life.” The Bible in Spainconsists largely of his letters to the Society, and the vigourand directness of his language must ofttimes have startled theofficials. The book was published in December, 1842.
George Henry Borrow was born July 5, 1803, and died July 26,1881.
It is very seldom that the preface of a work is read; indeed,of late years, most books have been sent into the world withoutany. I deem it, however, advisable to write a preface, andto this I humbly call the attention of the courteous reader, asits perusal will not a little tend to the proper understandingand appreciation of these volumes.
The work now offered to the public, and which is styled TheBible in Spain, consists of a narrative of what occurred tome during a residence in that country, to which I was sent by theBible Society, as its agent for the purpose of printing andcirculating the Scriptures. It comprehends, however,certain journeys and adventures in Portugal, and leaves me atlast in “the land of the Corahai,” to which region,after having undergone considerable buffeting in Spain, I foundit expedient to retire for a season.
It is very probable that had I visited Spain from merecuriosity, or with a view of passing a year or two agreeably, Ishould never have attempted to give any detailed account of myproceedings, or of what I heard and saw. I am no tourist,no writer of books of travels; but I went there on a somewhatremarkable errand, which necessarily led me into strangesituations and positions, involved me in difficulties andperplexities, and brought me into contact with people of alldescriptions and grades; so that, upon the whole, I flattermyself that a narrative of such a pilgrimage may not be whollyuninteresting to the public, more especially as the subject isnot trite; for though various books have been published aboutSpain, I believe that the present i