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Eothen

Traces of Travel Brought Home from the East
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( 334 ratings, 52 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Eothen by Jonathan Raban and Alexander William Kinglake is an engaging travelogue that takes the reader on a journey through the Middle East during the 19th century. It captures the landscapes, cultures, and people encountered along the way, blending adventure with keen observations and wit. The narrative presents a vivid picture of the region during that era, offering insight into both the writer's experiences and the spirit of travel exploration of the time.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by evocative travel narratives that paint a vivid picture of Eastern landscapes as seen through the eyes of 19th-century voyagers. It's perfect for those who appreciate rich descriptions and a blend of adventure with historical perspective.

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Eothen 'One of the most deliciously nasty booksin English literature.' - Jonathan Raban

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Eothen, which means 'news from the east', started out as a few notes scribbled on the back of a map, to amuse a friend who wanted some advice for his own youthful 'year off' travels, but it became one of the most influential, witty and idiosyncratic of travel books. It took Kinglake seven years before he had finished crafting this 'lively, brilliant and rather insolent' tale.

The physical details of the journey, undertaken in 1834 across the Balkan frontiers of the Ottoman Empire, through Constantinople, Smyrna, Cyprus into the Near Eastern cities of Jerusalem, Cairo, and Damascus, are never as significant as the conversations, chance encounters, and attitudes of the author. Packed full of an infectious charm and a youthful delight at the world, it is above all things funny as it lampoons the pomposity of earnest, middle-aged travellers seeking to establish themselves as professional authorities.

'One of the most deliciously nasty books in English literature.' - Jonathan Raban

'One of the most original, graceful and creative of all travel books... sparkling, ironic and terrific fun.' - Jan Morris

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780601427

Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 June 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Eland Publishing Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Alexander William Kinglake (1809-1891) was an English travel writer and historian. He was born near Taunton, Somerset, and educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar in 1837 and built up a thriving legal practice, which, in 1856, he abandoned to devote himself to literature and public life.

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