Overview

This set reprints the 1694 translation of Moreri's classic reference work (originally published in French in 1674). The two volumes contain a mixture of histiographical and geographical information. They chronicle the lives and actions of celebrated people from the time as well as offering invaluable information on various world-wide regions, empires and kingdoms. Although the work was originally edited by Moreri, the entries were compiled by a mixture of histiographers and lexicographers. Containing over 25,000 entries, the English edition is generally considered superior to the French as an additional section on the English, Scottish and Irish nobility was added. The influence of Moreri's work in other countries was quite remarkable. The German encyclopaedias that were published from 1709 onwards, under the editorship of Johann Franz Buddeus and that in Basle under the editorship of Jacob Christoph Islen, were partly based on Moreri. The French philosopher, Pierre Bayle himself, recognised Moreri's influence on his own Dictionary. Sample entries: Under the entry Andes : 'les Andes Cordilla de los Andes and Sierra Nevada, Mountains in Southern America, stretching out about a thousand Leagues in length; for they extend themselves from the North part of Perou to the South of the Kingdom of Chile, and tho the Streights of Magellan. They are of an excessive height, but fertile and well Peopled; and some of 'em vomit up fire.' Under the entry Angola :'there is another sort of Water-Monster, which the Natives call OAmbissiangulo and Pisiengoni ; the Portugals Pezze-Mouller , and the Seamen Sierene . It is about eight Foot long and four in breadth, with an oval Head and Eyes, a high Forehead, flat Nose, wide Mouth, but without either Chin or Ears: these creatures the Portuguese take in Ginns, and when they are fast in the snare kill 'em with Darts; during which time they cry out like Men: their Flesh hath both the smell and flavour of Pork.' Could this creature be what we now refer to as a whale or dolphin? Under the entry Lisbon : 'This city was recovered from the Moors by Alphonsus K. of Portugal, in 1147. It is now so famous that it has become a Proverb, 'Qui no ha visto Lisboa, no ha visto cosa boa: He that has not seen Lisbon, hath seen nothing that it is good.'

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