A Voyage to Abyssinia
By Jeronimo Lobo
A gripping tale of faith, discovery, and the unknown heart of Africa.
In the early 17th century, Jesuit missionary Jeronimo Lobo embarked on a daring journey into the mysterious and largely uncharted kingdom of Abyssinia—modern-day Ethiopia. With courage and conviction, he navigated treacherous seas, harsh landscapes, and cultural frontiers in pursuit of a dream: to restore Catholicism in a land rich with ancient Christian traditions. Told with vivid detail and sharp observation, A Voyage to Abyssinia is both a travel narrative and a spiritual chronicle. Lobo’s account brings to life the vibrant cultures, customs, and religious complexities of Ethiopia at the time. His encounters—with emperors and exiles, deserts and highlands—offer an unforgettable portrait of a land both distant and fascinating. Translated and introduced to the English-speaking world by the great Samuel Johnson, this classic travel memoir is a testament to human resilience, curiosity, and the enduring quest for meaning across continents.
Jerónimo Lobo (1595 – 29 January 1678) was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary. He took part in the unsuccessful efforts to convert Ethiopia from the native Ethiopian church to Roman Catholicism until the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1643.
