A Taste for Travel An Anthology

by John Julius Norwich

A Taste For An Anthology

Genres: Travel

1 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 1985

About the author

John Julius Norwich was an English historian, writer, and broadcaster known for his engaging books on European history and culture. The son of diplomat and politician Duff Cooper and socialite Lady Diana Manners, he received an elite education at Eton, Strasbourg, and Oxford, and served in the Foreign Service before dedicating himself to writing full-time.
He authored acclaimed works on Norman Sicily, Venice, Byzantium, the Mediterranean, and the Papacy, as well as popular anthologies like Christmas Crackers. He was also a familiar voice and face in British media, presenting numerous television documentaries and radio programs. A champion of cultural heritage, he supported causes such as the Venice in Peril Fund and the World Monuments Fund.
Norwich’s wide-ranging output, wit, and accessible style made him a beloved figure in historical writing.

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this book for about 10 years. It is best taken a chapter or two at a time. Between the extremely small print and the obsolete writing of travelers as far back as the 1690s, it can be savored over time with no loss. It is not as much fun to read as Bill Bryson's travels, but it does give a glimpse into the lives and thoughts of those who have written about travel over the last 300 years.

[Mindy Borchardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about this anthology is that it has introduced me to other books I'd like to read. Selections are organized thematically - e.g. Modes of Travel, Travelling Companions, Cuisine. but sometimes I questioned the reason for including some of the passages (surely there must have been better writing about cuisine), often the excerpts were from his own writings, and I would have preferred more background on the writers themselves - their lives and times - and less about Norwich.