A Trip of a Lifetime, with a Nice Little PhD Attached

There's an unmatched thrill in perusing the dusty shelves of a second-hand bookshop, where the scent of old paper and the promise of forgotten stories mingle in the air.

Recently, amidst the eclectic stacks of a local shop, I stumbled upon a gem: Literary Trips: Following in the Footsteps of Fame. This serendipitous find whisked me back a few years to a pivotal conversation with my long-suffering MA adviser, Rob Pope, when I proposed a PhD focused on Bruce Chatwin's walking obsession. "That sounds like the trip of a lifetime, with a nice little PhD attached," he mused (I paraphrase). Although I didn’t embark on the PhD and instead moved overseas, this find is once again scratching that itch.

Until then, here are a few of the eminent travel writers to whet your appetites:

The Nomadic Bard: Bruce Chatwin

Bruce Chatwin, a name synonymous with wanderlust, occupies a special place in Literary Trips and my bookshelf. His works, such as the seminal The Songlines, reflects a life dedicated to the pursuit of the unknown. Chatwin's sparse prose blurs the line between fiction and reality, often to the chagrin of those who inspire his characters (see In Patagonia) to create a narrative that is as much about the journey within as it is about the physical voyage.

Chatwin's wanderings were not just geographical but also deeply philosophical. His travels were driven by an insatiable curiosity about human existence and the stories that shape our lives. In In Patagonia, he writes, "To lose a passport was the least of one's worries. To lose a notebook was a catastrophe."  This anaphora encapsulates his dedication to capturing the essence of his travels, showing that for Chatwin, the stories he collected were as vital as the experiences themselves. 

Pioneer in Petticoats: Isabella Bird 

The Victorian era, often stereotyped as a time of rigid social norms and domesticity, was also the age of intrepid female explorers. These Victorian lady travellers defied societal expectations to chart courses across uncharted territories.

Isabella Bird, one of the most celebrated Victorian travellers, embarked on journeys that would have daunted many of her male contemporaries then and now. Her accounts reveal a spirit of adventure and a keen eye for detail. Bird's writing transports readers to the wild landscapes of the American West, Japan’s interior, and China’s wilderness, capturing the rugged beauty and the challenges she faced with remarkable resilience. "I have found a dream of beauty at which one might look all one’s life and sigh," she wrote, perfectly encapsulating her awe and wonder at the natural world.

The Culinary Voyager: Anthony Bourdain

Adding a contemporary voice to this illustrious company, Anthony Bourdain stands out as a master of modern travel writing. His works, such as Kitchen Confidential and A Cook's Tour, are staples for any travel literature enthusiast. Bourdain's writing is characterised by a deep engagement with the places he visits and the people he meets, often through the lens of their culinary traditions.

In A Cook's Tour, Bourdain embarks on a journey to find the perfect meal, offering a vivid chronicle of the landscapes, cultures, and individuals he encounters. "Your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride," he famously said, capturing his philosophy on both food and travel. His keen observations and unflinching honesty provide readers with a raw, unvarnished view of travel, far removed from the romanticised visions often portrayed in travelogues and blogs—no glossy selfies here.

A PhD and Beyond

If you were wondering, others have had the same idea for a PhD on Bruce Chatwin. Jonathan Michael Chatwin’s thesis, 'Anywhere Out of the World': Restlessness in the Work of Bruce Chatwin, completed at the University of Exeter, is a fascinating exploration of Chatwin's ceaseless wanderings and philosophical musings.  Rob had suggested looking at the Victorian ladies - maybe it is time I did.

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