Writers' Journeys That Shaped Our World - (Journeys of Note) by Travis Elborough (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Follow in the footsteps of some of the world's most famous authors on the journeys which inspired their greatest works in this beautiful illustrated atlas.

Some truly remarkable works of literature have been inspired by writers spending time away from their typical surroundings. From epic road trips and arduous treks into remote territories to cultural tours and sojourns in the finest hotels, this book explores 35 influential journeys taken by literary greats and reveals the repercussions of those travels on the authors' personal lives and the broader literary landscape.

Award-winning author Travis Elborough brings each of these trips to life with fascinating insights into the stories behind the creation of some of the world's most famous literary creations, including Dracula, Moby Dick, Murder on the Orient Express, Madame Bovary, The Talented Mr Ripley, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

From Herman Melville's first whaling voyage in 1841, from New York to Liverpool, to Jack Kerouac's on-the-road Odyssey, which is now an iconic drive, discover how these journeys imprinted themselves on some of the greatest literary minds of all time.

Complete with navigational notes, color photographs, and commissioned maps, the fresh insights within tell readers something new about the places, work, and personalities of some of the world's greatest minds.

Review Quotes

'This is a must read for lovers of literature, especially those with a lust for travel. But the book is much more than this in that it opens windows allowing the reader to view travel with fresh horizons. As Christie said, quoted in The Writer's Journey, "Not until you travel alone do you realize how much the outside world will protect and befriend you." The Writer's Journey can be your friend.' --Travel Begins at 40

"As I prepare to head down to Devon to lead a writing retreat, this arrives. All about the journeys writers have taken, and how the travel has inspired them. Perfect!" --Dan Thompson

"When writers step outside of their familiar surroundings, special things can often happen, as this collection charting the 35 routes that changed the lives and legacies of some literary giants, from Charles Dickens to Herman Melville, adroitly shows." --Wanderlust "Best Travel Books of 2022 so far"

About the Author

Described as 'one of the country's finest pop culture historians', Travis Elborough is an acclaimed author and social commentator who lives in London. His work delves into the ephemera of retro culture as well as the history of London, geography, and a broad range of other subjects. His Atlas of Vanishing Places won the Illustrated Book of the Year at the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards in 2020, and he has also written The Bus We Loved, a passionate love letter to the Routemaster bus which defined London transport for more than 50 years. His other works include A Traveller's Year, A London Year, The Long-Player Goodbye, Being A Writer and A Walk in the Park: The Life and Times of a People's Institution. Travis is a regular contributor to Radio 4 and the Guardian, and has penned articles on all aspects of travel and culture, from pirates in the Caribbean to donkeys at the British seaside. He has written for the Times, Sunday Times, New Statesman, BBC History Magazine and Kinfolk among others, and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, where he teaches creative writing.