The Record of a Long Life

TheRecord of a Long Life, written in 1896, is the memoir of HenryPilleau, army surgeon, traveller and artist. Spanningmost of the 19th century, it offers revealing insights into the changes inthose years: from a description of his childhood home in Kennington looking outon an open expanse of countryside to his observations on the impact of tourismon the ancient marvels of Egypt. He served inIndia before and after the Mutiny and in Ireland during the Great Famine and aFenian rebellion. He records in fascinating detail the conditions in which hepractised and the medical improvements he made. The memoir isa rich kaleidoscope. On one page there is an amusing conversation withConstable about Turner's work; on another we read of hair-raising encounterswith tigers. He reminds the Governor-General of India that they had beenroom-mates at school; he tells of an audience with the King of Franceimmediately after an attempted assassination; he relates the sad story of acaptured Andaman islander and his months as medical companion to a sickly12-year-old Lord Herbert on an eventful trip to the Holy Land. The novelist CharlesDickens, the billiards champion Kentfield, the unconventional Arabist Lady DuffGordon and the actor Charles Kean all appear. But it is as an artist and atraveller that Henry Pilleau is at his most observant, never happier than whensketching in his favourite cities, Cairo and Venice. This volumeweaves his art into the pages of the memoir, the result being an engaging mixof social history and art.

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