'Up the Country': Letters Written to Her Sister from the Upper Provinces of India

"Up the Country" by Hon. Emily Eden is a compilation of letters offering a snapshot of 19th-century India through the eyes of a British woman. The letters, addressed to Eden's sister, chronicle her journey through the Upper Provinces, blending personal thoughts with lively descriptions of the Indian landscapes, cultural interactions, and the British social life she encounters. Starting with her departure from Calcutta on a river steamer, Eden expresses her mixed feelings about leaving familiarity behind, while capturing the bustling scenes of her departure and detailing her diverse company of fellow travelers revealing the exotic scenery. Her story also touches on the transforming effects of new technology, such as railroads, on India's age-old customs. Through her letters readers are transported to a time of striking encounters, offering a view into a historical journey that merges individual reflection with colonial-era exploration.