First, the good news. My book, Going Places: A Reader's Guide to Travel Narratives, has just been published by Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-CLIO. The book is intended to help readers (and the librarians, bookstore employees, teachers, etc., who help readers find books) navigate the rich, complex world of travel narratives. It does this by providing annotations, subject headings, place headings, and read-alike recommendations for over 500 travel narratives.
For example, take a book like Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, which is listed in the "On Foot" section of the "Getting There Is Half the Fun" chapter of my book. For that title, my book provides:
- A summary of Bryson's book
- Subject headings like "Friendships," "Mountains," and "Walking"
- Place headings like "Appalachian Trail"
- Read-alikes like David Miller’s AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, Kelly Winters’s Walking Home: A Woman’s Pilgrimageon the Appalachian Trail, and Adrienne Hall’s A Journey North: One Woman’s Story of Hiking the Appalachian Trail
Even if it weren't my book, I would recommend taking a look at Going Places. Because it is my book, I highly recommend taking a look at it.
Second, more good news. This blog is being started to do many of the same things in real time, in other words, constantly updating the book. I'll be reviewing new travel narratives as well as looking at previously-published travel narratives that happen to be pertinent to current events, recent movies and TV shows, and the like.
And in every case, I will try to connect those titles to other titles with similar appeal, i.e., similar places, similar subjects, similar styles.
I may also intersperse these reviews with thoughts on the art and science of readers' advisory, something that I believe lies at the core of what libraries, bookstores, teachers, and others do.
So join me on this journey through the world of travel narratives by buying my book, following my blog, following the accompanying Twitter feed, and following me on Google+.
Robert
Twitter
Second, more good news. This blog is being started to do many of the same things in real time, in other words, constantly updating the book. I'll be reviewing new travel narratives as well as looking at previously-published travel narratives that happen to be pertinent to current events, recent movies and TV shows, and the like.
And in every case, I will try to connect those titles to other titles with similar appeal, i.e., similar places, similar subjects, similar styles.
I may also intersperse these reviews with thoughts on the art and science of readers' advisory, something that I believe lies at the core of what libraries, bookstores, teachers, and others do.
So join me on this journey through the world of travel narratives by buying my book, following my blog, following the accompanying Twitter feed, and following me on Google+.
Robert
Have you researched how people in previous centuries read about places and countries before they traveled? How do I find information about that?
ReplyDeleteGood question. The introduction to my book discusses the history of travel writing.
ReplyDeleteTwo things to remember. First, travel writing goes back at least to the 6th century BC, when Greek writer Hecataeus of Miletus wrote about his travels in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Second, until the spread of train travel in the 19th century, most people never traveled very far, and so travel writing was the only way most people experienced travel.
When more people began traveling, there was a rich tradition of travel writing for them to turn to. Then, beginning in the 1860s, when Baedecker published its first guide to Switzerland, travel guides appeared to advise people on where to go, what to see, where to eat, and where to stay.
Thanks for the question.
Robert