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[HEWSTONE] REMY RAYMENTON : 1917 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT TRAVEL DIARY OF A SEASONED TRAVELER TO JAPAN WHO GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT HE LOVES THE COUNTRY BUT THINKS IT WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT JAPANESE PEOPLE

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is an original manuscript 1917 travel diary handwritten effort by 'Remy' Raymenton, the husband of Hazel, travelers with a propensity for world travel during World War I. This 1917 diary dated May 19th 1917 through November with 89 pages of entries is entirely about their time in Japan save for the trip home to America. ***However one must note the book begins stating it is volume two of the Japan trip; volume one is absent and missing and thusly there is a gap between the Philippines trip we list separately and the missing book January 18th 1917 through May 19th 1917, otherwise complete.*** This travel diary is exceptional in its detail but not uncontroversial. Remy is on a return trip to Japan and is determined to do this trip in meticulous fashion from the top tourist destinations to tiny out ports on the sea. With clarity and intelligence he explains the sights and their cultural signifigance; he compares Japanese and Chinese differences as if he was a studied Orientalist; but to the dismay of some readers he bristles at times with racism and one feels he would be happier if the beauty of Japan was not marred by the Japanese people. [His two page description of Japanese eating habits might have had him removed from the country.] This reader feels that more than innate racism Remy may have had some 'issues' with Japanese peoples as we have not seen this racism in his other travel writings. Given the historical backdrop of strained Japanese and American relations over China maybe this was understandable for the times but shocking for the contemporary reader. Ephemera and some tipped in magazine pictures of their tourist destinations add a depth and substance to the narrative. Premium leather 9.5 x 8 inch notebook is G+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+. Binding: Leather

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