Travelogue Books

A website devoted to H.V. Morton and his works describes "In Search of England" as "the best-loved travel book of the 20th century." I'm not sure on what they base that judgment, but I for one am inclined to go along with it. I've read and reviewed a number of Morton's books, written both before and after this one, and while I enjoyed them all none of them were quite as entertaining, enlightening, and enthralling (a word I don't think I've ever used in an Amazon.com review before) as this one.

Following an almost crushing bout of homesickness in the Holy Land, Morton (who was 34 when he wrote this, incidentally) asked himself why, when Englishmen abroad think of England they -- even city-dwellers like himself -- picture green villages, hedge-lined roads, and other icons of rural life. Returning home, Morton sets out on a light-hearted and impulsive driving tour of villages, countryside, and cathedral and market towns. While the "In Search Of..." title might later become a conceit or even a cliché, in this, the first of his books to employ that phrase, he is literally in search this semi-mythical "England," if it still exists.

Morton's tour is a remarkable one, and along the way he meets practitioners of dying arts like bowl-turners and flint-chippers, all sorts of interesting people from nobility to tramps and "wayfarers," and a surprising number of American tourists (whose habits and slangy lingo I hope Morton is exaggerating, to save us a good deal of embarrassment). Morton's descriptions of architecture and landscape are excellent, but it's his ability to capture personalities and draw word-portraits that really shines. It's this aspect, as well as his clear love for his subject, that really drew me in. I read "In Search of England" cover to cover during the long Presidents' Day weekend, and got so into it I admit to actually being a little surprised to raise my head after the last page and discover (to paraphrase a famous movie line) "Seattle ... [expletive], I'm still only in Seattle."

I happened to read a third-printing of this book published in 1930, but I've also seen the contemporary Da Capo Press edition, and I have to say that if there's one thing "In Search of England" could use these days, it's an annotated version. Morton makes many references, comments, and asides that while understandable to readers in 1927 are largely lost to those in 2008. And then, of course, there's the question that kept haunting me as I read this, "How much of this survived the war and the subsequent half-century?" I read this book with an open Internet connection by my side for just such impulsive searches, and plan on someday going back through my copy and adding some notations of that sort myself, to the extent I can.

That issue aside, "In Search of England" is a remarkable book about a remarkable journey. You don't need to be a nostalgia-ridden Anglophile to get a lot out of it or appreciate the author's observant eye and skilled pen. But in my case, it helped.

H.V. Morton was a great travel writer. The first books I read by this author were about Italy, because I read everything I can about Italy. Morton wrote during the early 20th century, so there is a definite feeling of not just travelling, but travelling to another time. This is even more noticeable in the books about England and London. "In Search of England" takes the reader back to England of a few generations past. Morton is fascinated by the England of HIS past, and he speaks with English country folk who were old-fashioned even to his generation. There was a man who chipped flint into tools, for example. For readers like me who were fascinated by books like Rudyard Kipling's "Puck of Pook's Hill" and "Rewards and Fairies", Patricia Wright's "I am England", and the more recent "Sarum", this book will be a great source on England as it was in the last century. Very charming.

What a great travel writer H.V. Morton is! He reminds me of Joseph Mitchell ("Up in the Old Hotel and Other Stories"), who wrote of similar experiences in and around New York City for the New Yorker magazine in the 1930's, 40's and 50's.

This book chronicles a solitary road trip that Morton took around England in the late 1920's. It tells the story of his experiences with local people and gives fascinating historical commentary about some of the sights. As such, it's got human interest, glimpses of life in rural England nearly 80 years ago as well as snippets of life in England over the centuries. Morton's writing style is simple, sincere and insightful. He makes you believe he loves what he's writing about.

He sets off from London and heads west/southwest along the coast of the English Channel to Land's End. From there he goes northeast along the Bristol Channel and then straight north to Gretna Green just over the border into Scotland ("This story has no right in this book and I apologize for writing it" he writes), along Hadrian's Wall and finally zig zags southward back to London.

In Cornwall ("There is a strangeness in Cornwall. You feel it as soon as you cross Tor Ferry.") he spent the night in a tiny bedroom of a cottage in St. Anthony-in-Roseland. "...I came here because I like the name." Prepared for the worst, he finally came across "a rosy middle-aged woman, wearing a print apron...standing at the door of a pink cottage looking at my car as though it were an unnatural phenomenon." Asking her where he might stay the night, she replied " `I've got nothing for dinner, sir, but eggs and cream, because we have no shops, and everything is brought us from Gerrans in motor car-or else I'd gladly give you my spare room.' I told her that eggs and cream were the only things I would dream of eating in St. Anthony-in-Roseland." He goes on to recreate the evening he shared with this woman, her husband and some neighbors, talking and listening to music from the ballroom in London's Savoy Hotel on the wireless.

In another adventure, Morton arrived at Wells Cathedral just before noon and saw "a crowd whispering, standing about, sitting on stone seats, leaning against pillars and tombs,...There were charabanc (sight seeing motor coach) parties, American families, market women, farmers and their wives... `What are they doing?' I asked a verger. `Waiting to see the clock strike twelve!' he replied. Then I remembered that in Wells Cathedral is one of the most exciting clocks in England; in fact, with the exception of the clock in Strasburg Cathedral, probably one of the most exciting clocks in the world. It is 600 years old, and it was invented by a monk of Glastonbury called Peter Lightfoot." He goes on to vividly describe the clock and what happened as it struck twelve.

I love discovering great writers, and I put HV Morton in this category. In addition to "In Search of England" he wrote about London, Spain, Italy, Rome, St. Paul (the person), and more. I look forward to reading all his books and am grateful for DaCapo Press (and my husband who bought this book) for making this discovery possible.

I'm so glad that I found this book after having been to Egypt and Jordan/Petra because this book has given me insight into the original means of transportation within the Middle East. Stephens' writing style is pure poetry and is a true joy to read. The English language has evolved, but has not improved since his day. To read this book is a true treat for the mind and adventurer.

After having had a private guided tour where we did not have to secure a boat that had been scuttled to save it from indentured service to the Pasha, and we did not have to obtain camels and goods as well as questionable guides that might slit our throats in the desert for our money, I could appreciate our accommodations much more.

To have been an adventurer then was much more of a true adventure. While I may have had a massage on the top deck of the cruise ship on the Nile at dusk, which made me feel like Cleopatra, I by no means was an adventurer of Stephens' stature and could appreciate the true effort it was to make the same trip 150+ years ago.

The Bedouins of today are not much different than the days of yore. We did not have to sneak into Petra from over the mountains, but did sit down to coffee and tea provided by them. They still live in tents, but many are now driving top end Mercedes instead of camels. :)

After reading that he shot a pigeon at Denderah and shot out an eye of Hathor, I had to go back and look at my pictures to see if I could find that statue at the temple!

If you go to Egypt or Petra, I recommend reading this book after the trip because it has much more meaning then.

This book is a true treasure and I can see why a book written by a man who was born over 200 years ago is still in print! I can only hope that it will stay in print for another 200 years so that "modern" people can appreciate the arduous travails of yore.

At the very beginning of Stephens' travelogue, he explains to the careful reader the methodology he used to validate the legitimacy of his writing. I thought it brazen of him, and since he falsified this "rationalization for writing" under such a guise, at times I did not know whether to believe him or not. He did have a quaint deadpan, tongue-in-cheek demeanor.
I thought it funny that just after our returning from Poughkeepsie, (New York) I was reading about his traveling through Poughkeepsie!
Little nuances such as "... with all the extravagance of Eastern hyperbole..." (page 233) dot the pages.
Throughout the book, there are many wonderful learning experiences such as "...I remember I had a long discourse about the difference between the camel and the dromedary. Buffon gives the camel two humps, and the dromedary one; and this, I believe is the received opinion, as it had always been mine; but, since I had been in the East, I had remarked that it was exceedingly rare to meet a camel with two humps. I had seen together at one time, on the starting of the caravan of pilgrims to Mecca, perhaps twenty thousand camels and dromedaries, and had not seen among them more than half a dozen with two humps. Not satisified with any explanation from European residents or travelers, I had inquired among the Bedouins; and Toualeb, my old guide, brought up among camels, had given such a strange account that I never paid any regard to it. Now, however, the sheik told me the same thing, namely, that they were of different races, the dromedary being to the camel as the blood-horse is to the cart-horse; and that the two humps were peculiar neither to the dromedary nor the camel, or natural to either; but that both are always born with only one hump, which, being a mere mass of flesh, and very tender, almost as soon as the young camel is born a piece is sometimes cut out of the middle for the covenience of better arranging the saddle; and, being cut out of the center, a hump is left on either side of the cavity; and this, according to the account given by Toualeb, is the only way in which two humps ever appear on the back of a camel or dromedary. I should not mention this story if I had heard it only once; but, precisely as I had it from Toualeb, it was confirmed with a great deal of circumstantial detail by another Bedouin, who, like himself, had lived among camels and dromedaries all his life; and his statement was assented to by all his companions. I do not vie this out as a discovery made at this late day in regard to an animal so well known as the camel; indeed, I am told that the Arabs are not ignorant of that elegance of civilized life called "quizzing." I give it merely to show how I wiled away my time in the desert, and for what it is worth.2 In spite of Stephens' information, zoologists still classify camels as Dromedary (one hump) and Bactrian (two humps)." (Pages 241-242).
I never quite understood the evacuation and continuous abandonment of Petra until Stephens stated: '...in reference to the interpretation of the prophecy, "None shall pass through it for ever and ever,'I can say that I have passed through the land of Idumea..."(Page 306)."...because the Bedouins would always be lying in wait for travelers..." (Page 266.)
Do absorb the explanation and vivid description of POOLS OF SOLOMON on page 327 and The traditions of prayer at The Wailing Wall on pages 368-369.
I had just gotten half-way through this book the night (5-27-02) my father own died, and how I wished that I could be able to share my findings, my questions I need answered, and discuss this book with him!

Mr. Sthepens was a great traveler and writer too, he made easy to follow his travels and gave his very personal point of view ot those days. In particular I like his graphic description of the conditions that people lived in the past. I recomend it to everybody all ages.

what i like about this book firstly, is that its not an intellectual exercise of analyzing tons of theses, etc., but shaped by personal experiences in india over many years, meeting people from different walks of life from all over india. to me, a book about india should be grounded in its earth and in humility, because the real india is several things at once and full of apparent contradictions - for me, thats a key differentiator between this book and say, amartya sen's Arg.Ind essays/diatribes thats twice as long, but i fell asleep after the first few pages.

i dont agree with some of tully's ideas, but i used to firmly disagree with some of those ideas before i read this book; now i know, i cant be "sure for sure". thats why this book is so important. it humbly asks for balance and the need to avoid extremes, be in far-left pseudo-secularism, or far-right fundamentalism. these ideas are valid not just for india, but for the entire world.

This is an excellent book by Mark Tully and represents the net result of a lifetime of reporting in the subcontinent. The author does a very fine job of contrasting the fundamental differences between the Indian and the western tradition. Being a Britisher born and having spent most of his life in India, Mr.Tully is the perfect person to write about East vs West. He touches all aspects of human life and culture in a succinct manner giving the reader a wonderful perspective on the Indian way. Though a little simplistic at times, I came out with a better appreciation for the role of tradition and uncertainty after reading this book as well as a fresh view point about Indian civilization. Right in the foot steps of 'The Argumentative Indian' by Amartya Sen, I think this book is a very fine contribution of to the ongoing debate about the idea of India.

Most Indians and Indophiles are familiar with Mark Tully, who worked for long out of Delhi as BBC's correspondent. In the process, he fell in love with the country, and ended up settling down in India permanently.

This book is a kind of personal journey for him. The narrative is rather tentative, and covers a lot of ground. He weaves back and forth between UK and India, and offers quite a few valuable insights about religion, politics and culture of the two countries. UK is not treated independently, but more as a kind of foil to India. The book's 11 chapters are placed in various towns that he visited, which also serve as a kind of cultural emblem for what he is going to talk about in a particular chapter.

He also shares a lot of personal details, his trials, tribulations, anecdotes and triumphs. Being a journalist with a highly respected Channel, he had access to almost everyone in India. It goes without saying that his narrative is very sympathetic to Indian culture and the 'Indian way of dong things'. However, it is also reasonably balanced, so that it does not become a gushing, sentimental kind of nonsense about how great everything about India is.

Some of his comments are quite perceptive - for instance, about how India always tries to find a balance between extremes, a middle (middling?) way of doing things. He believes this is one of India's keys to longevity as a civilization.

Well, he is certainly right that this search for a balance, of avoiding the extremes, is almost an unwritten, unbreakable law in India. My late father often used to say 'ati sarvatha varjayet' - excess is to be avoided always / everywhere. And this philosophy gradually worked its way into my conscience, so that now the extreme option is always automatically renounced in favor of the moderate one.

In fact, in India, the term 'extremist' is often used as a political pejorative and is more popular than fundamentalist or terrorist, though it includes both these categories as well. Similarly, 'atyachar' which literally means 'extreme behaviour' is used to signify inhuman behaviour.

This is a book you can soak into. However, it will not make a conscious, discernible impact on you. The book is too wispy for that, too much like a mild fragrance, one of those extremely expensive perfumes, which only leave behind a tantalizing suggestion. I read it only last month, and already I have forgotten what were the key points that Tully made. Perhaps he didn't make any at all. May be he made many. He doesn't try to convince you or sell you his viewpoint - he merely shares his views. And that does really mean that he has become more Indian than many of us (see for example, Amartya Sen's The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity).

The hardcover edition issued by Rider (Random House group) has been printed and bound in India. The book is fairly easy to carry, and easier to read, because of good paper and printing. Of course, Tully's light, conversational style adds to the ease of reading.

All in all, an enjoyable, readable book - much more perceptive and interesting than his previous India in Slow Motion (India in Slow Motion), which was more task-oriented.

This book is great! Its a great coffee table book or a nice piece to briefly cover the topic of sustainability in Minnesota. It gives brief overviews of individuals and families that are incorporating community building and sustainability into their lives, business practices, business models, and architecture. My hat's off to the authors of this book and to the people whom made this book possible, the many subjects of this book.

I purchased every volume of this directory and found them all to be very useful to me at one point or the other. The information is very fresh and up to date. Thank You - Balil

Very complete information. Extremely helpful. Let's of sources and contact information. Definite must buy!

Ann Milholland Webb's first book about her adventures in Ireland was The Connemara Bus. It left us asking, "Then what happened?" Her latest offering, Irish Reflections, answers many of those questions with wit and insight as she takes a wry look at her Irish friends and the situations she faced.It is not all skittles and beer. The account of her experiences on 9/11 and the days that followed is compelling and sobering to read. Closing her Irish business was a great disappointment, yet her humor shows through it all.Irish Reflections is an enjoyable read. Perhaps you'll ask after you finish it, "Then what happened?"

Refreshing and brutally honest, the arthor captures situations of life that merit raised eyebrows. It made me think of life in a while new light. Invest an afternoon (or two) into this book and you'll see what I mean.

Julie Preston
Dallas, Texas USA August 7, 2005

Irish Reflections is an insightful and thoughtful book about one special woman's journey through her life and travels. She writes with humor and love about her travels, her heritage and her experiences. She was trying to get home from Ireland to visit her family in Kentucky on 9/11/01 when she discovered that she was the only traveler on the plane without a partner to share the uncertainty, fear, and horror of the event that would reshape the way we all view our place in the world today. She never lost her sense of humor or took herself too seriously as she coped with each new challenge. Irish Reflections is a good read and a comforting reminder that there is always reason to hope, learn and grow.

This book was inspired by Falcone's column in The Florentine, Italian Voices: A Window on Language and Customs in Italy. Both her column and this book describe the mentality, temperament, and identity of Italians. In Falcone's book, each anecdote is visually portrayed as well with pictures drawn by Leo Cardini that perfectly illustrate the figurative meaning of each expression.

This book makes the otherwise inconvenient communication barriers easily manageable. As "language is one of the most immediate ways to get to know a culture," this book is a useful tool to help ease the stress of culture shock while also proving to be a carefree read even to Italians, who would enjoy a look at themselves through Falcone's eyes.

I recommend reading this book all in one sitting; must-reads include "Dipende" and "Prego." A lighthearted, fun read, this is also a book that you can pick up and put back down. In a world where communication is essential, this book provides a stronger knowledge of the Italian culture while breaking down the barriers that inhibit the very thing this book is all about: communication.

If you are Italian or have ever visited Italy, this is a look into the true beliefs and superstitions of Italians. It guides them in their every day life. Its funny and charming. An enjoyable read

I started reading exerpts from this book in an Italian newspaper and was excited to see that Amazon was selling it. If you've ever lived or visited Italy and wondered about some of those things that just didn't translate too well- then this book finally makes it clear.

Doug's book is an informal guide, almost like having a friend giving you the inside line on travel. We took his advice and stayed in the city of Frascati when visiting Rome. It is a charming city and only 30 minutes by train from the hustle and bustle of Rome. We stayed in a hotel recommended in the book and it was lovely, and the town has some delightful restaurants as well. The views of the aquaducts, mountains and vineyards on the train ride are memorable.
Check this book out, and get a copy of the "Streetwise Rome" map to help you around the city.

We are the authors of Eating & Drinking in Italy. The author of this Italy guide, who lived in Italy and seems to visit often, has written a guide that can be used by budget travelers and those looking for luxury. This guide is opinionated and thorough. It's the only guide we used in Italy on our last three trips. Don't want to carry a lot of guide books? Just take this one.

I planned a self guided tour of Italy this past October/November. In addition to the Open Road guide, I purchased Frommer's 2001 Italy guide book. The Open road book is very well organized and written, providing an overview of Italian history, food and culture. A suggested itinerary is provided for each major city and the recomendations contained therein are invaluable. The reviews of hotels and restaurants are accurate and reflect a range of prices and styles, with an emphasis on the off the beaten path local joints. They even have suggested dishs to order and the best rooms to request.

My trip was a smashing success and I used this book for the majority of my planning.

There are many ways to sing our true heart's song, and not many brave enough to sing it. This tale of one woman's journey to new landscapes within and without strikes all the right chords to inspire readers to honor their own authentic voice.

"A Journey..." is a book about traveling with body, mind and
soul. That's not in the metaphysical sense but one of
exploration and discovery of all those realms with meanings
often unexpected, but that's the nature of exploration, isn't
it? The stories are about courage and its revealing of itself
to the author as she pushed herself out of her structured and
orderly worlds into quite scary and unknown ones. The places
she left behind were no longer acceptable ones in which to
linger as her soul was being destroyed. The only path to the
new places involved jumping from a high cliff not knowing what
lay below. Frightening? To say the least.

Her struggles and growth are sometimes tense but always
interesting as the reader wonders what's next. The places
visited appear to be the main theme but the show is stolen by
lessons learned from each major segment of her journey. Often
brave and sometimes bordering on foolish, she searches for the
line between that makes sense for her. That is where her true
bravery emerges more than dealing with the environment itself.
She has a taste of love that may have required more bravery
than any other experience in the book. She says it is a
woman's book. Men can certainly find some insights here as
well.

Carrera is a person with great heart and she shares that with
us in this writing. She exposes a piece of her soul and that
always makes a good read for me. That is real courage.
Thanks, Phyllis.

Part travelogue, part self-help guide, A Journey of My Choosing successfully bridges the two genres. Ms. Carrera's gentle, introspective tone welcomes the reader as a fellow sojourner on the "creative path of life." Her insights drawn from her solo world travel adventures invite the reader to gain perspective on his or her own life's journey. Not one to consume the latest self-help fad, I was thrilled to find A Journey of My Choosing to be neither prescriptive nor didactic, but rather an open invitation to explore my own creative path through vicarious enlightenment. Like a souvenir, this book is one I will keep close to my heart and to which I will surely return time and again.

Ms. Carrera employs an interesting literary technique. At the end of each chapter, she summarizes the lessons learned from each adventure with a "souvenir," a treasure she takes with her from each locale. Rather than load her backpack with tchotchke from each destination, she chooses to carry with her the far more valuable and enduring spiritual mementos. Her souvenirs, carefully selected and hard won, are presented to the reader as if they are the recipients of these delightful and inspiring gifts.

I tried to read this book slowly, savoring each adventure and allowing the insights to steep like a delicious brew. I so wanted to share my adventure as a reader and devotee that I immediately ordered ten copies for friends and family.

A very humane and sensitive account that explores the world view of people far from the beaten track. Despite the differences we are led to understand their concerns which turn out to be far less foreign than the material setting would suggest.

Chaffetz does an admirable job of describing northwest Afghanistan as it was circa 1975 and the effect that the country and its people had upon him. As one who had passed through the country in the late sixties, there was much I could recognize in both the stimulus and the author's response. Particularly gratifying to me was the "update" aspect - the provision of information from that particular time period, of which I had previously read and heard only the barest political and economic facts. Chaffetz ably uses history to inform and frame the life and times he experienced. A further enhancement is the author's knowledge of Farsi and the inclusion of translations into English of words, old inscriptions, and occasional couplets of Persian poetry. The title of this review is taken from one of those couplets. The book is evocative and commendable.

Chaffetz book "A memorial" is the last in my trilogy of readings on Afghanistan for this year. First, I read about Nic Danzinger's travels through the area in recent years. Next, I jumped back to the 1950's and '60s with Sir Wilfred Thesiger's--"Among the Mountains". I finished with Chaffetz's "A Journey Through Afghanistan". They are all brilliant but Chaffetz's book stands out as a scholarly piece and could well be used in anthropological circles for it's in depth study of the urban and nomadic Afghanis prior and during the Russian invasion. The recent drought that has affected the Hazarajat and Kuchi nomads of Afghanistan was brought that much closer with this book. I had bought this book in the late 1980's but between different trips to the Near East--I had fogotten where I left it. As a result, it took me 10 years to actually get around to reading it and after finishing it, I wondered why I hadn't cracked the spline earlier. Chaffetz' style can be a bit off-putting but his travelling companion is a perfect foil to David's abrasive personality. I would really like to know why Chaffetz was studying Parsi in pre-revolutionary Iran or was that just a cover?

Very pleased with my purchase and I hope to hear more of T.W. Kriner in the near future.

This is an extrodinate book. Once you pick it up, you can't stop reading it. When I started to read the book, I right away became more interested in the Niagara Falls. This book kept my imagination going the entire time. I recommend this book to anybody who is facinated by mystery, heroism, and tragedies of one of the most breath taking places on earth.

If you are tired of reading the same stories over and over again - about Niagara Falls, then this is the book for you. The book is packed with little known trivia in a well-written manner.