ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses The Spanish Journal written by Elizabeth Holland between 1803 and 1809. As an experienced traveller, Lady Holland’s annotations show not only her deep interest in the politics, society and culture of the country, but also her ability to reflect ‘otherness’. On this matter, we will particularly focus on Holland’s British sense of superiority, evidenced by her patronising commentaries about ‘backward’ Spain. As was customary in Enlightened travel writing, Holland measured Spain’s level of civilisation by observing its customs and forms of social interaction (the so-called moeurs), an analysis which gave prominence to both the behaviour of women and the way in which they were treated, England being her obvious yardstick. However, Lady Holland’s perceptions on Spanish high society and intellectual circles will also show a certain feeling of belonging according to a horizontal perception of European forms of mixed sociability.
