In 1790, Xavier de Maistre was a young soldier in the
Sardinian army, a kingdom that covered parts of modem
day France and italy. He wrote A Joumey Round My Room in
the Italian city of Turin during a 42-day house arrest for
fighting an illegal duel To amuse himself, he wrote this
parody of a travel journal by recording an exploration of
from
A Journey Round My Room
by Xavier de Maistre
Chapter I
A Book of Discoveries
What more glorious than to open for one's self
a new career-to appear suddenly before
the learned world with a book of discoveries
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Which excerpt from Chapter I BEST shows that
the narrator believes his book is beneficial for
others?
"The pleasure to be found in travelling round one's
room is sheltered from the restless jealousy of men,
and is independent of Fortune."
What more glorious than to open for one's self a
new career,-to appear suddenly before the
learned world with a book of discoveries in one's
hand, like an unlooked-for comet."
"No longer will I keep my book in obscurity. Behold
it,... read it! I have undertaken and performed a
forty-two days' journey round my room."
"And when I think of the number of unhappy ones
to whom I offer a never failing resource for weary
moments, and a balm for the ills they suffer, my
heart is filled with inexpressible satisfaction."