Product Description

This book comes with an introduction and notes by Michael Irwin, Professor of English Literature, University of Kent at Canterbury. "Rasselas" is a provocative fable about 'the choice of life'. Bored by the endless contentment of 'the happy valley' in which he has been brought up, Prince Rasselas escapes with his sister. They rove the world searching for the secret of happiness and striving to find the ideal way to live. Repeatedly the pleasures they glimpse dissolve on closer acquaintance, and the great men they admire prove flawed. Where, then, are happiness and purpose to be found? These questions, of course, remain open for each generation; but none has discussed them with more wisdom and humanity than Dr. Johnson. "Rasselas" is a searching and often darkly humorous commentary on the human condition as well as a classic of English prose.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #413076 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Customer Reviews

A book about the search for happiness
This book describes the journey an imaginery prince and his sister, embark upon in the search of happiness. Framed as a fairy tale, the book nonetheless deals with issues that are relevant to anyone at any age, questions that touch upon the very essence of our existence. Written in the 18th century, the language is first class, and enjoyable. Highly recommended!

Dreams are unattainable
Rasselas, as the title declares, is a prince of Abyssinia, who lives in a happy valley of the kingdom where he and his friends and family are preserved from all disturbing outside influences. With his friend, Imlac, his sister Nekayah, and her companion Pekuah, the tunnel out of the happy valley in search of adventure and take up residence in Cairo. They meet a deranged astronomer, and get him back in touch with reality; they get their adventure when Pekuah is kidnapped by Arabs; but she is rescued without too much drama. At the end of the book, they conclude that their dreams are unattainable and resolve to go back home.

I was interested that the action is exclusively set in Africa. There is mention of Europeans being in Cairo, and this making it a cosmopolitan city, but I don't think we meet any of them. I was also interested that the astronomer character, whose delusion is that he is in sole control of the planets and the weather, is aware of the moons of Jupiter. We are clearly meant to read the African characters as disaffected young English men and women, and that is how they are portrayed (with a touch of Orientalism) in the illustrated editions on-line; I don't think Johnson is really trying to say anything about Africa (though he had translated Jerónimo Lobo's book about Abyssinia twenty-five years earlier).

It's striking that this was written the same year (1759) as Candide, which has a similar basic concept, but the timings I think are such that neither Johnson nor Voltaire can have much influenced the other. It seems to have been the last fiction (indeed, the only prose fiction) that Johnson published. It is somewhat pessimistic but very engaging.

Wisdom.
This is easily one of the most relevant 18th century stories I have ever read. Johnson has mastered the English language and his style is direct and thoughtful. The lesson this book teaches makes it invaluable to anyone - it is one of those books you have to read, whether you end up liking it or not.