Faux's Memorable Days in America, 1819-20; and Welby's Visit to North America, 1819-20, part 2 (1820)

A richly annotated collection, this volume brings together two vivid early‑19th‑century travel journals that capture the pulse of America as the frontier expanded. Edited with scholarly notes and an extensive index, the book offers readers a window into the everyday lives, economies, and cultures of the Middle and Far West during a transformative period of settlement.

William Faux’s diary reads like a lively road‑log, recording encounters with judges trading hogs, cold‑milk breakfasts in log cabins, and the sounds of wolves on moonlit nights. His keen eye records the quirks of inns, the hospitality of local families, and the striking landscape from the rolling Silver Hills to the bustling streets of Louisville, providing a textured portrait of frontier society.

Adlard Welby’s companion narrative follows a pragmatic quest to assess the prospects for farmers, mechanics, and merchants eyeing the New World. His observations of English settlements in Illinois and a winter stay in Philadelphia complement Faux’s adventures, together painting a nuanced picture of early American optimism and challenge.