THE KINGDOM OF DALMATIA IN TRAVELOGUES OF THE BRITISH TRAVELLERS IN THE 19TH CENTURY: VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVE

The paper offers analyses of works authored by three British travel writers - J. G. Wilkinson, A. A. Paton, and T. G. Jackson. They travelled across the Kingdom of Dalmatia in 19th century, which resulted in comprehensive writings published immediately following their return from the journeys. The British travel literature on Dalmatia may be followed partially since the mediaeval period, and in particular as of the end of the 17(th) century, when Grand Tours started occurring. Throughout the 18(th) century, the number of the British visitors to Dalmatia increased. The culmination of the number of travellers occurred in the 19th century. The selected multi-volume works by the three representative writers offer an insight into the authors' personal viewpoints, and in the general British perspective regarding the observed area. Until then, this area had been on the margin of interest of the British and the European cultural public. Nevertheless, thanks to the analysed travelogues, it became revealed in its entirety. Interest for Dalmatia increased thanks to the fact that it is located at the meeting point between the West and the East. Travel writers have explained this by the historical context, offering however at the same time a contemporary interpretation too. For them, Dalmatia is a liminal area where influences of both cultures interweave; western styles are detected in art heritage, whereas eastern influences are visible in social manifestations of the Morlach culture. The economic profile of the area is also marked by both the historical and the contemporary states. On the one hand, this was a poor and neglected area; on the other hand, however, the favourable maritime position facilitated the improvement of the economic situation. In conclusion, the travelogues are placed into the context of the British colonial system in the discourse contained within the framework of imagined colonialism, where Dalmatia is ascribed characteristics of a semi-colonial world.