Love love LOVE Stuart McDonald's work! He's doing some of the most important and least appreciated travel writing/thinking atm, would love to take a masterclass in responsible development from him. So pleased to see the cross-pollination here.
Cool read! I imagine travel writing will also move closer to social science. Even the most interesting stories need to be grounded in thorough primary and secondary research. Thinking about Peter Hessler and Barbara Demick here. Flowery observations from the train window just won't cut it any more.
In a way, a lot of high-calibre travel writing has been doing just that for years (many of my favourite travel books from decades past are deeply researched, and function as accessible history/anthropology as much as travelogue). That said, the biggest-selling narrative travel books still tend to be those that don't necessarily deploy thoroughgoing research of that sort, but that *do* have a compelling personal narrative (often with a recovery/redemption aspect - think Raynor Winn's The Salt Path). What I definitely think won't cut it any more is the middle-of-the-road, goes-to-foreign-country, wanders-around-a-bit, regurgitates-a-bit-of-guidebook/Wikipedia type of narrative travel writing.
I'm particularly keen on Kapka Kassabova's books - all highly recommended. I thought Tom Bullough's Sarn Helen (a journey through Wales, with strong climate crisis themes) was a cracker too, from earlier this year.
I'll check 'em out, thanks! Also sure that that climate change (altering both the act of travel and the places we travel to) will increasingly become part of the genre
Love love LOVE Stuart McDonald's work! He's doing some of the most important and least appreciated travel writing/thinking atm, would love to take a masterclass in responsible development from him. So pleased to see the cross-pollination here.
Thanks Kate! Next time you’re out this way, coffee on me!
Thank you for this, it was an excellent read.
I’m waiting for Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, the most widely read travel guide ever, to come out in paperback.
Cool read! I imagine travel writing will also move closer to social science. Even the most interesting stories need to be grounded in thorough primary and secondary research. Thinking about Peter Hessler and Barbara Demick here. Flowery observations from the train window just won't cut it any more.
Astute observation, James! The founder of Skift said the same thing in my interview with him earlier this week - piece coming next week!
In a way, a lot of high-calibre travel writing has been doing just that for years (many of my favourite travel books from decades past are deeply researched, and function as accessible history/anthropology as much as travelogue). That said, the biggest-selling narrative travel books still tend to be those that don't necessarily deploy thoroughgoing research of that sort, but that *do* have a compelling personal narrative (often with a recovery/redemption aspect - think Raynor Winn's The Salt Path). What I definitely think won't cut it any more is the middle-of-the-road, goes-to-foreign-country, wanders-around-a-bit, regurgitates-a-bit-of-guidebook/Wikipedia type of narrative travel writing.
Any titles you might specifically recommend? Travelogues not found in the middle of the road?
I'm particularly keen on Kapka Kassabova's books - all highly recommended. I thought Tom Bullough's Sarn Helen (a journey through Wales, with strong climate crisis themes) was a cracker too, from earlier this year.
I'll check 'em out, thanks! Also sure that that climate change (altering both the act of travel and the places we travel to) will increasingly become part of the genre
Can I add Kate Harris Land of Lost Borders - she and a mate bicycled along a large part of the Silk Road.
Wow, love these perspectives on the future of travel writing! This was a really compelling and engaging read. Thank you!
Thanks Cara! Stuart and Tim are both such excellent thinkers (and writers!)