Books for Travellers
Reading is a great pastime and it’s particularly good to do while you’re travelling. I am also a big fan of audiobooks, which I can listen to on long journeys or while I’m trying to sleep or relax.
I am a fan of ‘classic travel books’, which inspire you to travel and those which are relevant to travelling in specific countries. Take a look at my top recommendations.
The first section I have called ‘Travel books – General’ and they are just that; tales to inspire all travellers. The following section, ‘Travel Books – By Location’ are where I have recommendations for countries which you can read at any point in your travels, but which do have a particular relevance to a specific country or part of the world.
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Travel Books - General
Into The Wild
Jon Krakauer
Genre: Travel / Adventure
Listed in another section: Yes – USA
Film adaptation: Film (2007)
Synopsis: First and foremost, no book is more iconic or inspiring for travellers than Into the Wild, it’s a must-read. It’s the true story of Chris McCandless, who destroys his life savings and travels around remote parts of North America by himself, hitchhiking and living full on the road, immersed in the present. His story reaches a tragic end when he travels alone into the Alaskan wilderness. The film is also a great watch, definitely read the book first though!
My views: Awesome book! It’s my top recommendation for travellers to read before or in the early days of their adventure, and a true traveller classic.
Great Expeditions
Mark Steward, Alan Greenwood & Collons Books
Genre: Travel / Adventure
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Full title: ‘Great Expeditions: 50 Journeys that changed the world’.
A book with short, factual yet fascinating true stories expeditions which changed the world.
My views: I love this book, it is truly incredible! It’s a great read for travellers, particularly those who are captivated by pushing the idea of exploring little known areas of the world. It’s also a good book to consider to learn more about world history. Many you will recognise, many you may learn about for the first time. From the space race, to sailing the pacific and getting to the south pole. Stories are short, often 4-5 pages long so it’s perfect reading for travellers, you can pick it up here and there and read it in a flexible way. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Jupiter Travels
Ted Simon
Genre: Travel / Adventure
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: A biography by Ted Simon, who in the late 1970’s set out on an epic 63,000 mile (101,000km), four-year circumnavigation of the world, travelling through 54 countries on a Triumph Tiger 1000 motorbike.
My views: This book was the inspiration for the popular TV series starring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman called the ‘Long Way Round’; despite being recommended to both the book and aforementioned TV series many times, given my love of travelling on motorbikes overseas, I still haven’t got around to reading/watching either yet! This book comes highly recommended, however and I’ll probably listen to the audiobook the next time I’m on a two-wheeled adventure! It is also the first in a series of books by the author, including: The Gypsy in Me (1997), Riding High (1998) and Dreaming of Jupiter (2006).
Everett Ruess: A Vagabond for Beauty
W.L. Rusho
Genre: Travel / Adventure
Listed in another section: Yes – USA
Film adaptation: Documentaries (2000 & 2013)
Synopsis: This search for ultimate beauty and adventure is chronicled in this remarkable collection of letters to friends and family. The collection covers the period from 1930 until he vanished without a trace in 1934.
My views: Many believe this book is akin to that of ‘Into the Wild’, which is also recommended here.
Eat Pray Love
Elizabeth Gilbert
Genre: Travel / Spirituality / Self-discovery
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: Film (2010)
Synopsis: After a bad divorce, our protagonist (and the author of the book) decides to pursue her own journey in search of three things she has been missing: pleasure, devotion and balance. To find these, she travels to Rome (eat), India (pray) and Bali (where she found love).
My views: A lot of female travellers I’ve met have said how great this book is and that it’s a classic for anyone wanting inspiration for travelling. A heads up though, the film has bad reviews, I’ve not seen it myself, but everyone I’ve met who has seen it says it’s really boring, so maybe a film to skip!
Touching the Void
Joe Simpson
Genre: Mountaineering / Adventure
Listed in another section: Yes – Latin America
Film adaptation: Documentary (2003)
Synopsis: Touching the Void is a book where Joe Simpson (the author) recounts his and Simon Yates’s near-fatal descent after climbing the 6,344-metre (20,814 ft) peak Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes.
My views: Awesome story, it’s a classic for anyone interested in mountaineering and pushing the limits of human exploration and determination.
The White Spider
Heinrich Harrer
Genre: Mountaineering / Adventure
Listed in another section: Yes – Switzerland
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: The story of the harrowing first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, the most legendary and terrifying climb in history.
My views: A great book for anyone interested in mountain climbing and mountaineering. This book also inspired the expedition in ‘Touching the Void’ – another classic which is also recommended on this list.
The Celestine Prophecy
James Redfield
Genre: Travel / Spirituality
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: Film (2006)
Synopsis: This book discusses various psychological and spiritual ideas rooted in multiple ancient Eastern traditions and New Age spirituality. The main character undertakes a journey to find and understand a series of nine spiritual insights in an ancient manuscript in Peru. The book is a first-person narrative of the narrator’s spiritual awakening as he goes through a transitional period of his life.
My views: I had this recommended to me by a close friend. I haven’t got around to reading it yet, but she said it was a great book for travellers to read if they are interested in some degree of Spirituality. The book generally has good review,s although some are mixed reviews, as is often the case with books which focus on spirituality.
Travel Books - By Location
Feel free to read the books below if you love travelling. They are some of my favourite books which have inspired me. I am a big fan of history and more factual books, although I have also included some classic fictional stories too. I have separated these books by country. You could read them at any point on your travels, but they are particularly good to read/listen to if you are going to or in that particular country.
Note 1: Some books are relevant to entire regions. For example, a book about the Conquistadors I have listed under ‘Latin America’. These are interspersed alphabetically with my recommendations for specific countries. For reference, regional categories include:
‘Arabia / North Africa’
‘The Americas’
‘Latin America’ – Referring specifically to only Spanish-Speaking countries in the Americas
‘The Levant / Near East’, which you will find under ‘L’.
‘Oceans’ – Books about our Oceans and adventures in this part of our beautiful planet.
Regardless of where you are travelling to or considering travelling to, I recommend that you skim-read the whole list to see what appeals, even if you have no plans to go to that area…yet. You may even find books which appeal and inspire you to learn more about an area or to visit an area which you previously may not have considered.
Note 2: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all listed under ‘United Kingdom’ and not under the names of their respective countries.
Arabia / North Africa
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
Genre: Travel / Adventure
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Santiago, a young shepherd living in the hills of Andalucia (southern Spain), feels that there is more to life than his humble home and his flock. One day, he finds the courage to follow his dreams into distant lands, each step galvanised by the knowledge that he is following the right path: his own. The people he meets along the way, the things he sees and the wisdom he learns are life-changing.
My views: This book came to me highly recommended by a friend and has incredible reviews.
The Americas
Memory of Fire trilogy
Eduardo Galeano
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Memory of Fire is a trilogy of books: ‘ Genesis’, ‘Faces and Masks’ and ‘Century of the Wind’. The books cover the story of the Americas, from the birth of the continent’s indigenous peoples through the end of the twentieth century. The three volumes form a haunting and dizzying whole that resurrects the lives of Indians, conquistadors, slaves, revolutionaries, poets, and more.
My views: This book comes very highly recommended. It shares anecdotes from different perspectives and is deemed to be a well-loved and fascinating series of books. In truth, I sadly haven’t read them yet, but they are definitely at the top of my list and worth looking into if you are spending time in the Americas.
Canada
The Trickster trilogy
Eden Robinson
Genre: Fiction
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: TV Series (2020)
Synopsis: Unique vision of BC indigenous life, weaving the myths and legends of the land into a strangely plausible novel.
My views: An Indigenous friend of mine from my travels in Canada recommended this book to me when I asked him to recommend something on the topic of Canada and, particularly, Indigenous people. Although I haven’t read these yet, I hear they’re good and feature a lot of influence from stories of Canada’s indigenous peoples.
France
Napoleon: The man behind the Myth
Adam Zamoyski
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Full title: ‘Napoleon: The Man Behind the Myth’. The true story of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte – a man who rose from obscurity to being Emperor of France, dominating most of Europe for a decade.
My views: This is one of my favourite books of all time. Whether you think he is an evil tyrant and dictator who caused the deaths of millions or a hero who pulled France out of a period of constant bloodlust and revolution, either way, Napoleon Bonaparte is a fascinating figure. This book follows his journey from being a Corsican to working his way to the top of the French regime.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas
Genre: Fiction / Adventure
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: Film (1961, 2002, 2024 and more)
Synopsis: Edmond Dantès is a French nineteen-year-old first mate of a merchant ship. Although he is not wealthy, his life is getting better and better: he is respected, is favoured by his employer, loved by his father and is returning to marry his sweetheart when his world collapses. Jealous rivals cause him to be falsely accused of treason. He is arrested and imprisoned without trial at the Château d’If, a grim island fortress off Marseille.
My views: This book is a classic. If the author sounds familiar, it’s because he has written other classics such as ‘The Three Musketeers’ and ‘Man in the Iron Mask’. The start of the book is incredible; it is long, however, and some of the middle can get a bit slow and dull at times, but it is a true French classic.
Greece
Mythos
Stephen Fry
Genre: Ancient Beliefs
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: In Stephen Fry’s vivid retelling, we gaze in wonder as wise Athena is born from the cracking open of the great head of Zeus and follows doomed Persephone into the dark and lonely realm of the Underworld. We shiver in fear when Pandora opens her jar of evil torments and watch with joy as the legendary love affair between Eros and Psyche unfolds.
My views: If you are interested in ancient Greek beliefs and gods, this is a good choice. Stephen Fry is a great writer (and narrator if you listen to the audiobook); he makes difficult themes relatable and easy to follow. This is a good book to read if you want the basis of Greek beliefs, although it still can be a deep topic at times, and I personally preferred the other two books in his series: ‘Heros’ and ‘Troy’, with ‘Heros’ being my favourite.
Heroes
Stephen Fry
Genre: Fiction
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: A book detailing some classic Greek stories, including those of Perseus, Heracles, Bellerophon, Orpheus, Jason, Atalanta, Oedipus, and Theseus.
My views: This is my favourite of Stephen Fry’s books on ancient Greece, which also includes ‘ Mythos’ and ‘Troy’, which I’ve mentioned in this list. I listened to the audiobook which is really good. The author takes you through classic stories in an easy to understand way; many of these stories are so iconic that you will likely know some already or notice the themes of these legends incorporated into other modern day stories. He also discusses ideas such as destiny, which are still very relatable for all of us to this day.
Troy
Stephen Fry
Genre: Fiction
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Stephen Fry’s retelling of the story of Troy.
My views: My second favourite of Stephen Fry’s great books on Ancient Greece, which also includes ‘Mythos’ and ‘Heroes’, which are also commented on in this list. If you want a classic Greek story to get you in the vibe for your travels there, it’s one worth looking into, especially if you are visiting places like Mycenae.
India
Shantaram
Gregory David Roberts
Genre: Travel / Adventure
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: TV Series (2022)
Synopsis: A biography of an Australian bank robber and fugitive who travels to Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) and starts a new life. From running a medical clinic in a slum to joining the mafia. The story is written as more of a novel, but is inspired by the author’s real life.
My views: I saw everyone reading this in hostels when I went to Mumbai, and have since read it and love it, it’s a true classic. I love India and Mumbai. The book also paints an incredible and accurate picture of the sights and feelings you have when first arriving in Mumbai. The adventures around Mumbai and India are thrilling. There are also a few philosophical debates between characters in the book, which were really interesting and made me reflect on my own life and relationships. He often muses about being on the road and being far from family and friends half a world away, which many travellers will relate to.
The Anarchy
William Darymple
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: A history book about the rise of the British East India Company in India.
My views: I loved listening to this book as I rode a Royal Enfield Himalayan (motorbike) through north India and cruising through beautiful, meandering roads in the Himalayas. This book sets the scene for what India looked like before the arrival of the British East India Company and explains how the company managed to become more powerful than most nations. The narrative paints a picture of the rise and ultimate conclusion of the East India Company and its effect on south Asia. I loved this book. I am a history nerd, but even if you aren’t, I think it’s written in a way which makes it not heavy and for everyone to enjoy.
Genre: Rags to Riches
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: Film (2021)
Synopsis: Balram Halwai is the White Tiger – the smartest boy in his village. His family is too poor for him to afford to finish school, and he has to work in a teashop, breaking coals and wiping tables. But Balram gets his break when a rich man hires him as a chauffeur and takes him to live in Delhi. The city is a revelation. Balram becomes increasingly aware of the immense wealth and opportunity all around him, while knowing that he will never be able to gain access to that world. As Balram broods over his situation, he realises that there is only one way he can become part of this glamorous new India – by murdering his master.
My views: I was recommended this story by a bookseller at a cute small bookshop in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, in north-western India, who told me it’s a great Indian rags-to-riches story. It’s a good read! Also, if you find a small bookshop in Jaisalmer down the winding streets, say hi to Monty from me!
Untouchable
Mulk Raj Anand
Genre: Indian Culture
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Bakha is a proud and attractive young man, yet nonetheless he is an Untouchable – an outcast in India’s caste system. It is a system that is even now only slowly changing and was then as cruel and debilitating as that of apartheid. Into this vivid re-creation of one day in the life of Bakha, a sweeper and toilet-cleaner.
My views: This book sheds light on the caste system in India – a concept that, thankfully, for many in the world, is alien to us.
Italy
Under the Eagle
Simon Scarrow
Genre: Historical Fiction
Listed In another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Follow the adventures of new Roman Legion recruit Cato and his centurion Macro through their life in the Legion.
My views: This is the first in a great series of books. They’re entertaining and action-packed.
Latin America
Conquistadors
Michael Wood
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest of the Spanish adventurers, travelling from the forests of Amazonia to Lake Titicaca, the deserts of North Mexico, the snowpeaks of the Andes and the heights of Machu Picchu. He experiences the epic journeys of Cortés, Pizarro, Orellana and Cabeza de Vaca, and explores the turbulent and terrifying events surrounding the Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires.
My views: An incredible book, it paints a good picture of the life of the native Americans before the arrival of the conquistadors and the impact and conquests of the invaders. It gives accounts from Spaniards and indigenous people, which gives an interesting insight to philosophies of groups and the ambitions of individuals. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it a lot.
Papillon
Henri Charrière
Genre: Travel / Adventure / Autobiography
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: Film (1973 & 2017)
Synopsis: An incredible true story. In the 1930’s, a Frenchman, Henri Charrière (nicknamed Papillon) is condemned for a murder he had not committed. He was sent to a brutal penal colony in French Guiana and made repeated escape attempts despite the repercussions. He made nine escape attempts over a thirteen-year period, even spending time with Indigenous people after one escape.
My views: I’m a sucker for a great true story, and there are few more incredible than this. Originally published in France (‘Paillon’ being French for butterfly) and I also enjoyed the 2017 film adaptation.
The Levant / Near East
The Templars
Dan Jones
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No – But Kingdom of Heaven (2005) is a good watch and set during the crusades
Synopsis: The Knights Templar were the wealthiest, most powerful – and most secretive – of the military orders that flourished in the crusading era. Their story – encompassing as it does the greatest international conflict of the Middle Ages, a network of international finance, a swift rise in wealth and influence followed by a bloody and humiliating fall – has left a comet’s tail of mystery that continues to fascinate and inspire historians, novelists and conspiracy theorists.
My views: A great book about the Templars, a very unusual organisation by today’s standards. Originally created as an organisation to safeguard pilgrims on the dangerous roads in the Holy Land, later became a highly influential bank and famous warriors and who were finally destroyed by an immoral king.
Malta
The Great Siege
Ernle Bradford
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: The epic tale of the Ottoman Empire’s huge invasion force, which descended on the small Mediterranean island of Malta. The outnumbered and outgunned Knights Hospitaller put up one of the most famous in history to repel the invaders.
My views: Akin to that of the Spartans at Thermopylae, the Knights of St John and the brave Maltese islanders must hold out against the innumerable hordes of the Ottoman Empire with all of their wealth, resources, manpower and technology. This is a true underdog story. It’s a really well-written book and an exciting and dramatic tale. It also gave me huge appreciation for the brutal war and the incredible leadership of Grand Master La Vallette, for whom the modern day capital of Malta is named.
Nepal
Beyond Possible
Nimsdai Purja
Genre: Mountaineering / Adventure
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: Film (2021)
Synopsis: An amazing true story of Nepali high altitude climber Nirmal Purja and an incredible feat of climbing the world’s 14 highest peaks with an altitude greater than 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) (called eight-thousanders) in just 7 months (i.e. from early spring to late summer, before the winter season begins). The actual climbing took 6 months and 6 days between April 2019 and October 2019. The first person to climb the 14 eight-thousanders was Italian climber Reinhold Messner, who took 16 years between 1970 and 1986. By 2013, the feat had been achieved in 7 years and 310 days by South Korean climber Kim Chang, who also did not use supplementary oxygen.
My views: What an incredible true mountaineering story, a true inspiration. I have only seen the documentary and have yet to read the book but the reviews are excellent. This will make for good reading en route to or while you are in Nepal.
Oceans
No matter how well-travelled you think you are in the world, we must remember that around 70% of our planet is water, which can be travelled. Here are some classics who dream of exploring the world’s oceans.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Jules Verne
Genre: Adventure
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: Film (1954)
Synopsis: A vast black object is spotted menacing the oceans, causing panic around the world. When Professor Aronnax joins an expedition to hunt down the creature, he and his two companions discover it is a giant submarine, the Nautilus. Captured and held prisoner on board by its captain, Nemo – unpredictable, enigmatic, exiled from humanity – they have no choice but to travel the terrifying underwater depths with him.
My views: This book is deemed to be a classic and also the inspiration for Everett Ruess’s adventures (see: ‘Everett Ruess: A Vagabond for Beauty’, which I also recommend). This book is a classic, being published in France in 1870; as a result, you may find some elements dated, but it is a classic nonetheless.
Master and Commander
Patrick O'Brian
Genre: Historical Fiction
Listed in another section: Yes – UK
Film adaptation: Film (2003) / No
Synopsis: A classic book, set in the 1800’s, about the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, the ship’s surgeon on the high seas in the service of the Royal Navy.
My views: The first in a series of books. They’re really popular books and I really enjoyed the first one, although I did find the second one a bit slow at times. Great if you want to read an English classic and also get the vibe of England’s nautical history when Britain really did rule the waves.
Switzerland
The White Spider
Heinrich Harrer
Genre: Mountaineering / Adventure
Listed in another section: Yes – General
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: The story of the harrowing first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, the most legendary and terrifying climb in history.
My views: A great book for anyone interested in mountain climbing and mountaineering. This book also inspired the expedition in ‘Touching the Void’ – another classic which is also recommended on this list.
Türkiye
The area of land which is now the modern day country of Türkiye has a varied and colourful history, being the crossroads between east and west. Many famous empires have occupied this land, including the Hittites, Persians, Greeks, Romans (AKA Byzantines) and Ottomans. I’m a big history nerd, so many of my books below are along these themes. To make matters confusing, the city of Istanbul has also been referred to historically as Constantinople and Byzantium, so if you see these names in your reading, that’s why!
In addition to the books recommended below, you may also find some books listed under ‘Greece’ of interest; modern day Türkiye was once occupied by those of Greek culture (often referred to as ‘Hellenic’ instead of Greek in a historical context).
Constantinople: The Last Great Siege
Roger Crowley
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Full title: ‘Constantinople: The Last Great Siege 1453’. During the siege that followed, a small band of badly organised defenders, outnumbered ten to one, confronted the might of the Ottoman army in a bitter contest fought on land, sea and underground, and directed by two remarkable men – Sultan Mehmet II and the Emperor Constantine XI.
My views: I haven’t read this book yet, but I know the topic well, and this book has amazing reviews. If you like history and want to better understand the modern day country of Türkiye and specifically the city of Istanbul, learning more about this topic is a must, and this appears to be the best book for the job. The fall of Constantinople (now Istanbul) was the end of the Roman Empire and it is seen by many as the end of the Middle Ages, as the advent of gunpowder became more prevalent in warfare thereafter.
United Kingdom
The Perfect King
Ian Mortimer
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: Edward’s life is one of the most extraordinary in all English history. He ordered his uncle to be beheaded, he usurped his father’s throne, and he started a war which lasted for more than a hundred years. He took the crown when it was at its lowest point and raised it to new heights, presenting himself as a new King Arthur, victorious across Europe. He was the architect of many English icons – from parliamentary rule to the adoption of English as the official language and even the building of a great clock tower at Westminster. Yet behind the strong warrior king was a compassionate, conscientious and often merciful man – resolute yet devoted to his wife, friends and family, and the father of both the English nation and the English people.
My views: I love this book and it is one of my favourites. Despite being a history nerd, I knew little about the life of Edward III, one of England’s most influential kings. I really enjoyed the audiobook for this one.
The Last Kingdom
Bernard Cornwell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: TV Series (2015)
Synopsis: Uhtred, born into Saxon aristocracy in ninth-century Northumbria, is orphaned at ten. He is captured and adopted by a Dane and taught the Viking ways. Yet Uhtred’s fate is indissolubly bound up with Alfred, King of Wessex, who rules over the only English kingdom to survive the Danish assault.
My views: Bernard Cornwell is a great writer, having also written Sharpe (another great series of books and set of TV films). I am a big fan of the TV series, The Last Kingdom. This book is the first in a series called ‘The Saxon Stories’, with the first book in the series being ‘The Last Kingdom’, from which the popular TV series takes its name. The book takes the protagonist, Uhtred, through some of the most important events and battles in English history. The story starts with the fall of the Kingdom of Northumberland, the area of England where I am from. Northumberland was once the mightiest kingdom in England: a country largely made up of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. One by one, the powerful Saxon Kingdoms fell to the invasion of Danes (Vikings) until only one, Wessex, remained. King Alfred of Wessex, along with Uhtred face the Viking onslaught and struggles to create a united England.
Say Nothing
Patrick Radden Keefe
Genre: History
Listed In another section: No
Film adaptation: TV Series (2014)
Synopsis: ‘Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland’. A story about ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland.
My views: I haven’t got around to reading this yet, but it’s come highly recommended to me and has great reviews. It’s a good read for anyone looking to visit Northern Ireland and understand more about its sad recent history.
The Black Prince
Michael Jones
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: In 1346, at the age of sixteen, he won his spurs at Crécy; nine years later, he conducted a brutal raid across Languedoc; in 1356, he captured the king of France at Poitiers; as lord of Aquitaine, he ruled a vast swathe of southwestern France. He was Edward of Woodstock, eldest son of Edward III, but better known to posterity as ‘the Black Prince’.
My views: What a figure: The Black Prince! I would recommend reading ‘The Perfect King’ by Ian Mortimer (recommended above) before this one to give some better context. I really love this book, but I did prefer The Perfect King, which is about The Black Prince’s father, and it leads nicely into this book if you like the other is my advice. I listened to both as they’re nice audiobooks.
A Great and Terrible King
Marc Morris
Genre: History
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: No
Synopsis: This is the first major biography for a generation of a truly formidable king. Edward I is familiar to millions as ‘Longshanks’, conqueror of Scotland and nemesis of Sir William Wallace (‘Braveheart’). Edward was born to rule England, but believed that it was his right to rule all of Britain. His reign was one of the most dramatic of the entire Middle Ages, leading to war and conquest.
My views: Edward I, Longshanks, The Hammer of the Scots and the inspiration of Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones, the man’s reputation is legendary. Edward finally conquered Wales, giving the UK some of its most epic castles and briefly occupied Scotland.
Master and Commander
Patrick O'Brian
Genre: Historical Fiction
Listed in another section: Yes – Oceans
Film adaptation: Film (2003) / No
Synopsis: A classic book, set in the 1800’s, about the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, the ship’s surgeon on the high seas in the service of the Royal Navy.
My views: The first in a series of books. They’re really popular books and I really enjoyed the first one, although I did find the second one a bit slow at times. Great if you want to read an English classic and also get the vibe of England’s nautical history when Britain really did rule the waves.
United States (USA)
On the Road
Jack Kerouac
Genre: Travel / Adventure
Listed in another section: No
Film adaptation: Film (2012)
Synopsis: A book about the travels of the narrator, Sal Paradise and his friend Dean Moriarty across the United States and Mexico. The book celebrates a search for self-discovery and freedom through spontaneous, often hedonistic adventures involving jazz, poetry, and drugs, as they reject post-war American conformity.
My views: Apologies, yet another book which I have been recommended to, however, which I have yet to read. It’s deemed to be a classic, though, so take a look if you want some reading before heading to the USA.
Into The Wild
Jon Krakauer
Genre: Travel / Adventure
Listed in another section: Yes – General
Film adaptation: Film (2007)
Synopsis: First and foremost, no book is more iconic or inspiring for travellers than Into the Wild; it’s a must-read. It’s the true story of Chris McCandless, who destroys his life savings and travels around remote parts of North America by himself, hitchhiking and living full on the road, immersed in the present. His story reaches a tragic end when he travels alone into the Alaskan wilderness. The film is also a great watch, definitely read the book first though!
My views: Awesome book! It’s my top recommendation for travellers to read before or in the early days of their adventure, and a true traveller classic.
Films
There are some good films to inspire you on your travels. Many are also books (listed above). Some of my favourites include:
- Into the Wild (2007)
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Note: I have also noted in my book recommendations which books have (to my knowledge) been made into films or TV series, should you be more of a watcher than a reader/listener.
Looking for more travel inspiration? Why not listen to my podcast where I interview travellers from all walks of life and who have incredible stories to share.
Thinking of taking a trip? Be sure to check out my Destination Guides, where I provide an overview of a country as well as recommendations for things to do once you’re there!