A Book of Travellers' Tales

Eric Newby (1985)

THE A5 BOOK REVIEW

A Book of Travellers' Tales is a massive collection of over three hundred short snippets of work from the world’s best travel writers, as chosen and organized by Eric Newby.  He certainly is an enthusiastic fan of the genre; this extremely comprehensive anthology includes anecdotes from highly popular travel writers like Paul Theroux, Freya Stark, Patrick Leigh Fermor, and Jan Morris, historical figures like Hannibal and Leif Ericson, and a very long list of obscure explorers, diplomats and poets.  His material is arranged geographically, literally covering the entire world, with the oldest selections appearing first.  Newby provides a short descriptive introduction of each writer quoted, and we use this here at A5 Travel Books as a fantastic way to find new work.  A Book of Travellers' Tales is a long anthology with over three hundred travel pieces, and therefore perhaps better utilized as a book perused from time to time then read from start to finish.  It is a must own for true travel writing aficionados.
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OTHER A5 RECOMMENDED TRAVEL BOOKS - ERIC NEWBY

Eric Newby was an English travel writer, known best for A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush (1999) and The Last Grain Race (1956), a story of his apprenticeship on board a sailing ship in a race from Australia to Europe.  He served in World War II, earning a Military Cross.  He was captured in Italy, where he later escaped, helped by a Slovenian woman who later became his wife, experiences that were described in perhaps his best book, Love and War in the Apennines.  Click here to learn more about Eric Newby.

GREAT QUOTES:

"As my principal intention in assembling this anthology has been to entertain rather than to instruct, there should be no need for a long introduction.  Indeed, there is a duty to avoid one: it is too much like inviting guests to a feast and then asking them to read a preamble about how and why the dishes were prepared before allowing them to tuck in and find out for themselves."
​- Eric Newby, A Book of Travellers'Tales

INTERESTING LINKS:

  • Interestingly, Newby published an entire second volume of additional travel writing in 2004 called A Book of Land and Peoples.  It is another long book, structured in almost the exact same format, with even more obscure selections.  
  • Those interested in this type of book should also consider reading a similar anthology compiled by Paul Theroux.  Click here to read our review of The Tao of Travel.
  • Fans of Eric Newby who are interested in a collection of highlights from his own travels should try Departures and Arrivals, published in 1999.