Do you read travel books (not guides)? If so, what do you enjoy? (best, sail)

[Spikett]

I'm thinking authors like Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux, Freya Stark, etc... I also sometimes read the "Best Travel Writings" compilations that come out each year.

If you read travelogues what can you recommend?

[Blinx]

I love reading old ones.

I happened on several about London and England by H.V. Morton, who wrote a lot during the 1930s or so.

[Spikett]

Originally Posted by Blinx

I love reading old ones.

I happened on several about London and England by H.V. Morton, who wrote a lot during the 1930s or so.

Those sound interesting - I'll have to see if I can find them.

[eureka1]

Love Bill Bryson. I subscribe to Conde Nast Traveler and get most of my "travel" writing there. Otherwise I prep by reading related works, Thomas Wolfe for Asheville, "The Devil in the White City" for Chicago etc.

[Blinx]

Originally Posted by Spikett

Those sound interesting - I'll have to see if I can find them.

They have new ones on Amazon. He's also written about other countries... Italy, Israel...

He was a newspaper reporter who shot to fame because he was on site when they opened King Tut's tomb and wrote about it.

[Spikett]

Originally Posted by Blinx

They have new ones on Amazon. He's also written about other countries... Italy, Israel...

He was a newspaper reporter who shot to fame because he was on site when they opened King Tut's tomb and wrote about it.

Yes, Amazon has them. I'm going to start with "In Search of England" - thanks for the recommendation!

[EnricoV]

There are so many different types of travel, it does depend on what you like.

Some authors whose work I've enjoyed are: Tim Cahill, William Least-Heat Moon, Bill Bryson, Peter Mayle, Anthony Bourdain.

I do love historical travel narratives, too. And diaries.

[Spikett]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

There are so many different types of travel, it does depend on what you like.

Some authors whose work I've enjoyed are: Tim Cahill, William Least-Heat Moon, Bill Bryson, Peter Mayle, Anthony Bourdain.

I do love historical travel narratives, too. And diaries.

I've got the "America's Best Travel Writing" edition that Bourdain edited (seems like that was the one with a great piece on chocolate and it's history). I like him a lot - witty, intelligent. I've read all of Bryson and some Heat-Moon. I love most of what I've read. Theroux is darker, more serious than most I've read - very good though - just a different feel/mood.

[iuyno]

Two that come to mind are:

"Logbook for Grace" by Robert Cushman Murphy, a naturalist who sailed on early whaling ships to the south Atlantic.

"The Sea and the Jungle", by H M Tomlinson, a doctor who sailed on an exploratory voyage to see how far the Amazon could be navigated by ocean-going vessels.