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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:In the Raw: Some Reflections on Transcribing and Editing Lieutenant Hugh Clapperton's Writings on the Borno Mission of 1822-1825
Author:Bruce Lockhart, JamieISNI
Year:1999
Periodical:History in Africa
Volume:26
Pages:157-195
Language:English
Geographic terms:Nigeria
Northern Nigeria
Subjects:travel
History and Exploration
About person:Hugh Clapperton (1788-1827)ISNI
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/3172140
Abstract:This paper reviews the evolution of a 19th-century travel diary from the original 'remark books' to a polished fair copy version prepared for publication. The journals in question were those kept by Lieutenant Hugh Clapperton while serving on the Borno Mission in northern Nigeria in 1822-1825. The first part of the paper offers a brief description of the Borno Mission, and puts Clapperton's manuscript journals into the context of the material published at the time. The second part gives background on Clapperton's upbringing, education, career, and literary skills, and describes the external pressures on him as a writer. Next the author takes a closer look at the evolution of the journal from a remark book or log to a finished, fair copy by means of a detailed review of the changes made in the journal at various stages. He gives an example of a contemporary approach to editing a primary journal of Clapperton's for publication and briefly compares Clapperton's method of approach to his journal with the writings of the two other officers of the Mission, followed by a sample of a week's diary written in all three formats: log, journal, and fair copy. Finally, the author considers arguments in favour of presenting such journals in the raw form of the primary journal and reviews some editorial difficulties involved in doing so. Notes, ref.
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