Edward Lear, a travel writer? Who knew? Famed for his books of nonsense poetry and accompanying doodles, Lear’s love was in fact lanscape painting and in the mid-19th century he travelled Europe and beyond in search of scenes suitable for his oils and watercolours. This collection brings together the familiar nonsense and the less familiar… Read More
Tag: anthology
Jan Morris was surprised when hip US magazine Rolling Stone asked her to write for it in the mid-1970s. She felt that the avant garde brand of journalism was perhaps at odds with her own style and approach to writing – and accepted immediately. The results are collected in this anthology, and they are excellent.… Read More
On one level, Benedict Allen has compiled an impressive volume of accounts of exploration throughout history that can be enjoyed as heroic adventures and tales of “derring-do”. But I can’t help feeling depressed as I read story after story of exploitation, greed, cruelty and murder, often carried out in the name of “civilisation” or religion.… Read More
Morris’ collection of travel essays have already entered the pantheon of travel writing classics. This one is perhaps misnamed, as it is more about cities than journeys, but the range of places certainly leaves the reader feeling like they have been on an immense journey. These urban vignettes are ideal for Morris, long enough to… Read More