Aubyn Trevor-Battye, A Northern Highway of the Tsar. Whitehall Gardens: Archibald Constable & CO., 1898

            Aubyn Trevor-Battye was an English explorer, artist, and a naturalist. A Northern Highway of the Tsar is a sequel to his most famous journey through the tundra and forests of high Northern Russia- Ice-bound on Kolguev.  In 1895, Trevor-Battye travels from Archangel to the island of Kolguev during Russia’s fifth season-Rasputnya- the time between autumn and winter. This is a difficult time of travel because the land is wet, boggy, and not yet frozen from the cold winter temperatures.

            Trevor-Battye journeys with Thomas Hyland, a camp man also from England, and his dog Sailor. For parts of his journey Trevor-Battye is also accompanied by Samoyeds, natives to the land. Many Russians look down upon the Samoyeds and believe them to be of a much lower class than even the poorest Russian peasants. However, the author is interested not in leaders of Northern Russia, but of the northern farmers, villagers, and peasantry. Trevor-Battye is very familiar with the animals of the region and describes in detail which type of birds and other game inhabit the area.

            Trevor-Battye wrote this book at the request of the critics of his previous journey to Northern Russia. He dedicates this book to Emperor Alexander III, and the Duke of York, who “always had much at heart the welfare of the wild region described” (x). Trevor-Battye makes no mention of the Baltic States in this book.

(EP 2006)