One for the Road: Burton Holmes Travelogues

by Kelly Amabile on

Do you know who coined the term “travelogue”? Until today, I didn’t know that it was this guy. Burton Holmes is known as America’s most famous travel showman, and even has his very own Hollywood star. A camera enthusiast from a young age, Holmes dropped out of school at sixteen and began traveling, first to Europe with his grandmother, and then to Japan. Early film clips from his travels are recognized as the very first travelogues. He soon established a travel film production company and began capturing the world.

There’s much more to the story, and a good place to continue learning about this travel pioneer is between the pages of Burton Holmes Travelogues: The World’s Greatest Traveler, which was released last fall by Taschen. Holmes took over 30,000 photos and 500,000 feet of film during the course of his travels through every continent. This 300+ page archive has collected the very best of his work.

Bonus for folks in the Rochester, NY area: Author and editor Genoa Caldwell will be giving a presentation about Burton Holmes at the George Eastman House tomorrow, Oct. 18 at 6 pm, as part of their Wish You Were Here travel photography lecture series.

Foyles’ Read Around the World

by Kelly Amabile on

One of London’s best independent bookstores, Foyles, has been hosting an in-store promotion that armchair travelers may want to know about. Read Around the World is a campaign that highlights literature and authors from different regions around the world. The Foyles grand tour of the continents includes promotions, competitions and events that center around a different part of the world every two months. They highlight cookbooks, travel guides, photography and art books, as well as world music from each region, all hand-picked by Foyles staff.

They are still showcasing Europe titles on their (recently revamped) website and also South America, the next continent to be highlighted in their literary tour. Beginning in December they will shift their focus to Asia, and round out the circumnavigation with a final promotional phase for Australasia. If you live in the UK or will be visiting at all between now and the end of February, be sure to visit one of Foyles locations, and be transported to someplace else.

One for the Road: Quiet Corners of Paris

by Kelly Amabile on

It’s been awhile since we’ve mentioned some of The Little Bookworm’s unique travel guides. So let’s get right to it — The boutique publisher has released two new books about Paris that are surely worth a mention. The first is this pretty little peek at the Quiet Corners of Paris. Hasn’t the title alone transported you to some narrow cobblestone rue off the Seine? Wandering through winding lanes and courtyards of the arrondissements sounds quite magical. Author Jean-Christophe Napias has identified over eighty of these hidden spots for wander-lovers to explore at their leisure while visiting the city of lights.

And after several hours strolling through the streets of Paris, the hunger pangs will surely require a stop at an authentic Paris brasserie. Which is where The Brasseries of Paris will come in handy. This guide to some of the very best French eateries includes photos and details about the history of these city landmarks. It’s also lightweight enough to throw in your bag when boarding that flight to Paris. Now get going — what more motivation do you need? Bon Voyage!

One for the Road: Planetwalker

by Kelly Amabile on

Here’s an inspirational story that’s more about transportation than it is about travel. Actually, it’s a tale of determination and inner strength. Planetwalker is the memoir of John Francis, an environmental activist who embarked on a remarkable journey of courage and conviction. After witnessing an oil spill in San Francisco Bay in 1971, he stopped using motor transportation, and began to walk everywhere he went, for a total of 22 consecutive years. Early into his walking pact, he also took a vow of silence, which lasted 17 years.

During his silent walking journey, Francis took a pilgrimage across the U.S. on behalf of the environment and world peace. He managed to earn a PhD in land management as well. On Earth Day in 1990 he broke his vow of silence. Francis now runs a non-profit environmental education program called Planetwalk. He travels the world speaking about pilgrimage and change, and about an environmental studies curriculum he has developed for high schools and universities. He’ll be speaking at the National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium this coming Wed., Oct. 17 at 7:30 pm. Sure sounds like someone I’d like to hear speak, although his actions and activism have spoken volumes already.

Best Non-Guidebook Travel Books

by Neil Woodburn on

One should always read about a location before visiting it. And I don’t mean just reading the guidebook.

There are countless wonderful reads out there–both fictional and historical–that will provide far better perspective and understanding to a place than a guidebook could ever dream of doing.

Better guidebooks usually have a section recommending appropriate literature to read before stepping foot on the plane and I highly suggest you pick up at least one of these books. Perhaps an even better source for appropriate literature, however, can be found on the National Geographic Traveler website. The Ultimate Travel Library contains the suggestions of travel professionals who were asked “to name the books that have most enriched their sense of place and best informed their peregrinations.”

The results are nicely organized by region and then by country. The lists aren’t extensive, but the books included are quite powerful in their ability to conjure up a true understanding of far off lands.