Blackstock, E. Frazer. The land of the Viking and The Empire of the Tsar. Illustrated New York, London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1889.

There is little if any information on the author E. Frazer Blackstock (Sources that I have looked through are included below[1]) except for noting his passion for both Scandinavia and Russia, can be read in his vivid descriptions of the town of Bergen, Throndhjem and Helsingfors, too mention but a few of the cities in Scandinavia.

Blackstock’s book takes us through Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia with a strong emphasis on the beauty of the visual landscape, seen in each of these countries. He starts in Norway traveling by boat through Bergen, Throndhjem and, what used to be the capital of Norway ,Christania which is present day Oslo. Along his journey his ideas about Romanticism are reflected in the beautiful landscape, jewelry and work ethics of the Norwegian people. Blackstock, along with two other friends, then travels by boat to Stockholm, Sweden. It is in Stockholm that Blackstock points out the beauty of the Swedish people, their love for the outdoors and the feeling that they are the best class of immigrants coming to America during that time. While in Stockholm, they take in the National Museum as well as the Northern Museum, which highlighted a large part of Swedish history. While traveling by boat to St. Petersburg, Blackstock, along with his two friends and newly introduced Pliny, their travel guide, stop in Finland at Helsingfors, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland, at the time. Their ideas about Finland being a country uncivilized and barren were instantly changed at the sight of the University, palace, theatre and churches. After staying for a night in a local hotel, they sailed to St. Petersburg. Their time in Russia incorporated the observation of the various cathedrals spread throughout the country. These cathedrals include St. Isaacs, Zazan, Alexander Nevski monastery and palaces such as the Winter Palace and Trarskoe Selol’s summer home. They then traveled by train to Moscow where they visited the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and the Nora Devitchi Monastery.

Blackstock’s book, which is written during the Industrial revolution in England and in Russia, and also during a period of intense Russification in the Russia and Lithuania, is typical of that of an American traveler during the 1800’s, which I believe is evident in the way the author only seems to write about the Landscape and customs; stirring away from the political aspects in the country. However, he seems to choose to visit the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, along with Russia, in order to provide his reader with information about the customs and cultures of these countries, due to the lack of knowledge that people in the U.S. grow up with.  The only difference from a tourist book in comparison to Blackstocks own is that it lists his personal ideology towards the people of every country he goes to. Hints are also given at Blackstocks views with regards to the Americans being a more civilized race then most of the people in Scandinavia and Russia.  (JP 2005)