A Traveller's Life
0
0
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Author Description
A chronicle of travels, some homely some exotic, from the man who can make a schoolboy holiday in Swanage as colourful as a walk in the Hindu Kush. Eric Newby's life of travel began in 1919, on pram-ride adventures with his mother into the dark streets of Barnes and the chaotic jungles of Harrods, and progressed to solo, school-bound adventures around the slums of darkest Hammersmith. His interest piqued, Newby's wanderlust snowballed, and his adventures multiplied, as he navigated the London sewer system, bicycled to Italy and meandered the wilds of New York's Broadway. Whether travelling abroad as a high-fashion buyer for a British department store or for pure adventure as a travel writer, even when reluctantly participating in a tiger shoot in India, Newby chronicles his adventures with verve, humour and infectious enthusiasm. After nine years as the travel editor for the Observer, Newby reluctantly gave up the post, eschewing the new form of human-as-freight travel. However, this change was certainly no pity for his readers, as the latter-day Newby continued on his unwavering quest for fascinating detail and adventure wherever he roamed, whether on two feet or two wheels. 'A Traveller's Life' chronicles the incredible adventures of one of the best-loved tour guides in the history of travel writing.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This memoir investigates the lifelong development of a travel writer, exploring how early childhood curiosity evolves into a career defined by both professional duty and personal wanderlust. Eric Newby, a renowned travel writer and former editor, utilizes his personal history to examine the changing nature of travel throughout the twentieth century. He contrasts his early, localized explorations with his later, more expansive international experiences, providing a framework that highlights the transition from traditional exploration to modern, commercialized tourism. The narrative serves as a reflection on the necessity of maintaining a sense of wonder regardless of the destination's scale or distance.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological account of Newby's life from 1919 through his tenure at the Observer.
- Anecdotes ranging from domestic childhood excursions in London to professional assignments in India and Italy.
- Observations on the shift in travel culture from authentic exploration to mass-market tourism.
- Reflections on the methodology of travel writing and the pursuit of detail in mundane environments.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
The text is regarded as a quintessential example of mid-century travel writing, noted for its self-deprecating wit and keen observational focus. The work provides a dense, engaging look at the evolution of the genre through the eyes of a practitioner who prioritized the human experience over the destination itself.
Page Count:
304
Publication Date:
2010-01-01
Publisher:
Harper Press
ISBN-10:
0007367872
ISBN-13:
9780007367870
Travel
Memoir
Adventure
Biography
Autobiography
Travelers
Newby Eric
