In 1837, Russian writer Nikolai Ivanovich Gretsch (Николай Иванович Греч, 1787– 1867, see Figures 1.3 and 1.4, Portraits of Nikolai Gretsch) set out from the imperial Russian capital of St. Petersburg on a six-month journey through parts of England, France, and Germany. As an official representative of the Russian government, Gretsch was tasked with examining trade and technical schools in the regions he visited. On his return to Russia, he would compile a lengthy report (not included here) about these schools to present to his superiors.

Not surprisingly, as he completed his trip, Gretsch took advantage of this tremendous opportunity to engage in extensive tourism. Along the way, he made notes about his adventures in the form of letters that he sent back to friends and family members in Russia, and he chose to publish some of these letters in the journal he coedited called The Northern Bee (Северная Пчела). After his return to St. Petersburg, Gretsch then compiled 41 letters into three volumes that he titled Travel Letters from England, Germany and France (Путевыя Письма изъ Англiи, Германiи и Францiи). The present volumes offer the firstever, full English translation of Gretsch's travelogue.

Gretsch's Life

Nikolai Gretsch had a long and productive life. He was a teacher, translator, novelist, encyclopedist, journalist, editor, memoirist, literary critic, textbook writer, and government functionary. Born on 3 August 1787 in St. Petersburg, he completed his education in Russia before becoming a teacher in 1804, a role that he held at various institutions for many years. One of his first literary endeavors was the translation of anti-Napoleonic essays starting in 1806. He would later translate other material, including various German works.

Gretsch spent many years working for the imperial Russian government. He became an important member of the official St. Petersburg Censorship Committee in 1805 and held the position for 10 years. During this time, he also began editorial work for a journal called Гений Bремëн (Genius of the Times), for which he worked from 1807 until 1809 when, ironically, the journal's run was terminated by the censor. Interestingly enough, Gretsch would go on to help write the censorship laws that went into effect in 1828.