"Burney visited many of the most important cultural centers in France, Switzerland and, especially, in Italy. Armed with letters of introduction he met countless prominent musicians, composers, artists and men of letters - including Balbastre, Voltaire, Rousseau, Padre Martini, Latilla, Barietti, Farinelli and Caffarelli, Guarducci and Nardini. Constantly attending concerts, visiting churches, museums, libraries and art galleries Burney observed and noted in illuminating detail everything that he saw and did, everyone he met and conversed with. He was thus able to provide and invaluable record of the state of music, and the arts generally, in France and Italy at that time." -- back cover