East of Suez

Ports, pearl fishing and the search for new markets share the pages of Frederic Courtland Penfield's account of Ceylon, India, China and Japan. Published in 1907, the book combines travel observations with a forceful argument for American commerce abroad. Penfield's introduction urges manufacturers to sell more finished goods in the East, connecting the movement of travelers with ships, industry and trade.

His attention also settles on the craftsmanship of particular places. In the passage on the Taj Mahal, he considers the building's proportions, its marble dome, decorated doorways and finely worked screen. These close descriptions offer a different pace from the introduction's commercial arguments. For readers of historical travel writing, the interest lies in that combination of architectural observation and a visitor's national ambitions. The account shows how admiration for buildings and landscapes can sit beside strong opinions about the future of trade.