Four French travelers converge on Cuba: Testimonials, authorship and conceptualization of otherness (Etienne Michel Masse, Ernest Duvergier de Hauranne, Jean-Jacques Ampere, Adolphe Granier de Cassagnac)

The 19th century marks the apex of the travel genre and of the travel accounts. Unlike 16th and 17th century travelogues mainly concerned with expansionism, the 19th century travelogues were marked by romanticism and the travelers' zeal to spread knowledge. Cuba, in particular, due to its perceived healthy climate and to the rising interest in the natural sciences, attracts European and North American visitors. The ensuing accounts contributed to some extent to ethnography as well as to formulating a historiography of Cuba.; This dissertation focuses on the representation of Cuba by four French travelers between 1810 and 1866. Diaries and treatises left by Etienne Michel Masse (1778--?) in L'isle de Cuba et la Havane; Ernest Duvergier de Hauranne (1798--?) in Cuba et les Antilles ; Jean-Jacques Ampere (1800--1864), in Promenade en Amerique and Adolphe Granier de Cassagnac (1806--1880) in Voyage aux antilles danoises..., are analyzed. I argue that politics and science, romanticism and commerce merge in the travelers' representation of Cuban culture and institutions. An anthology reflecting some of the themes analyzed in the dissertation is provided in English translation to offer a more complete picture of the travelers' observations.; The travel writers studied allow us first-hand experience into the mutual gaze involved in cross-cultural encounters. Since travel writing functions within the realm of verisimilitude, topoi such as allusions to prior travels, literary and historical characters serve as devices to convince the reader of the accuracy of the viajeros' observations. Therefore, I contend that the travel accounts studied constitute exercises in knowledge spreading and gathering through which the travelers attempt to confirm authorship, entice others to follow and forge identities for the "Others" they encountered. While they claim to be independent agents, these writings reflect the biases of the authors as well as the rivalry between France, Spain and England, particularly in their treatment of slavery. Through the travelogues Cuban institutions, mores and customs are revisited, enriching our perspective of the past by providing cues for a better understanding of cultural and historical trends that have withstood the test of time.