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A Girl's Ride in Iceland
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
238 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1889
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 4, 2012
What an adventurous young lady Ethel was! Almost on a whim, she, her brother,another young lady and two other men decide to go to Iceland. In the 1880s, in the absence of the internet, Lonely Planet etc, even getting information about the place was pretty difficult. She obviously came from a highly educated family: her father in particular was able to furnish her with some of the geological facts about Iceland.
So, in a very short time, off they sail, and pretty well prepared too.
The boat trip almost induces sea-sickness just in the reading of it, but they land first in Akureyri, where they begin their horseback adventures exploring the country, staying at farmhouses and meeting the locals. Ethel and her lady friend had by this time disposed of convention, swapping the side saddle for riding astride, like men, and Icelandic women.
Ethel has a very keen traveller's eye, and really brings to life her observations of Iceland in those times, when life hadn't changed very much for centuries. Of course she exudes that attitude of superiority that all British people possessed in the 19th century, referring to the Icelanders as natives (though maybe it didn't have the negative connotation that came to pass in later times). However, she really seemed to show respect for the Icelanders and their wonderful literary heritage, and admired their toughness, honesty and egalitarianism.
The party's main destination was a gruelling ride from Reykjavik to the geysirs and back, via Thingvellir.
She describes a canyon there, which of course is the boundary of the two great tectonic plates which meet at the mid-Atlantic ridge. This was before the theory of continental drift was developed, and one hopes that Ethel lived a long enough life to read about the theory, and to realised that she stood in such a geologically significant spot!
This charming little book is freely available on Project Gutenberg.
So, in a very short time, off they sail, and pretty well prepared too.
The boat trip almost induces sea-sickness just in the reading of it, but they land first in Akureyri, where they begin their horseback adventures exploring the country, staying at farmhouses and meeting the locals. Ethel and her lady friend had by this time disposed of convention, swapping the side saddle for riding astride, like men, and Icelandic women.
Ethel has a very keen traveller's eye, and really brings to life her observations of Iceland in those times, when life hadn't changed very much for centuries. Of course she exudes that attitude of superiority that all British people possessed in the 19th century, referring to the Icelanders as natives (though maybe it didn't have the negative connotation that came to pass in later times). However, she really seemed to show respect for the Icelanders and their wonderful literary heritage, and admired their toughness, honesty and egalitarianism.
The party's main destination was a gruelling ride from Reykjavik to the geysirs and back, via Thingvellir.
She describes a canyon there, which of course is the boundary of the two great tectonic plates which meet at the mid-Atlantic ridge. This was before the theory of continental drift was developed, and one hopes that Ethel lived a long enough life to read about the theory, and to realised that she stood in such a geologically significant spot!
This charming little book is freely available on Project Gutenberg.
August 13, 2017
This short travel writing from 1895 is free on Amazon ebooks (through Project Gutenberg). It's a fascinating account by a young London society girl about her 24-day trip to Iceland with her older brother and three friends because they didn't want to go to one of the regular, fashionable destinations in Europe (e.g., Switzerland, Germany, France). Adventurous girl!
At the time, Iceland had no tourism, so the writing is meant to explain to others how they might go about following her lead: e.g., what clothing and supplies she brought, how much things costed, where they stayed, what they saw, how they traveled. She has a wonderful time despite the lack of hotels and other conveniences and comforts. They take a rough cargo ship across the ocean, eat in farmhouses, and go on a tenting trek with Icelandic ponies to visit the geysers. The author also includes history and natural history. Even her dad gets involved, comparing her geyser experience to his in Yellowstone and writing a brief explanation of volcanoes for her. I see where she gets the adventure genes from...
Having recently visited Iceland, I appreciated this glimpse of early tourism and compassion to my experience. For example, I can be grateful for roads, which didn't exist in 1895 Iceland. In fact, the only wheeled conveyance the young people come across in Iceland is a wheelbarrow, and they're so excited to see it that they give each other wheelbarrow rides!
At the time, Iceland had no tourism, so the writing is meant to explain to others how they might go about following her lead: e.g., what clothing and supplies she brought, how much things costed, where they stayed, what they saw, how they traveled. She has a wonderful time despite the lack of hotels and other conveniences and comforts. They take a rough cargo ship across the ocean, eat in farmhouses, and go on a tenting trek with Icelandic ponies to visit the geysers. The author also includes history and natural history. Even her dad gets involved, comparing her geyser experience to his in Yellowstone and writing a brief explanation of volcanoes for her. I see where she gets the adventure genes from...
Having recently visited Iceland, I appreciated this glimpse of early tourism and compassion to my experience. For example, I can be grateful for roads, which didn't exist in 1895 Iceland. In fact, the only wheeled conveyance the young people come across in Iceland is a wheelbarrow, and they're so excited to see it that they give each other wheelbarrow rides!
July 12, 2020
Started to read this and thought Wodehouse. But it is so much more than a jolly jape. Tweeties had done her research. And happily shares it. Not only does she paint late C19 Iceland for you but she is able to provide historical co text and intersecting facts.
If you have read Saga Lands then this will also help you vicariously explore The North.
Cant wait to find and read her other books.
Why don’t we know more about Tweedie as a writer and an adventurer? Oh, probably because she wore skirts.
If you have read Saga Lands then this will also help you vicariously explore The North.
Cant wait to find and read her other books.
Why don’t we know more about Tweedie as a writer and an adventurer? Oh, probably because she wore skirts.
February 8, 2018
A time gone by
An interesting tale of a young lady's visit to Iceland in an era when such a thing was very unusual, and riding the sturdy Icelandic horses astride like a man even more so! I enjoyed reading about places I've been, and hearing how things have changed. A shame the pictures weren't reproduced.
An interesting tale of a young lady's visit to Iceland in an era when such a thing was very unusual, and riding the sturdy Icelandic horses astride like a man even more so! I enjoyed reading about places I've been, and hearing how things have changed. A shame the pictures weren't reproduced.
April 22, 2024
This book shows how much was already known about geysers & valcanoes before the 1900’s. It also give a glimpse into the lives of the Icelanders, travelers by ship, the leisure class, and women travelers from England or Scotland. She shared her impressions. The benefits of riding astride are discussed.
January 1, 2018
I read this after traveling to Iceland, and was surprised with how accessible it was. The book gives you a good feel of what traveling to Iceland had been like and stands in stark contrast with what Iceland is now.
February 18, 2018
The amusing travel journal of a young woman who travels to Iceland around the turn of the century. Highly enjoyable, interesting, quick read. Well-written, well-researched.
January 29, 2024
Although written in the late 1800's this gives you a feel for the country of Iceland. History and travel all in one a great journal.
February 27, 2020
An interesting read of a journey to Iceland in the late 19th century when very few travellers ventured to the North: ‘Our inquiry at a London ticket office whether the officials could give us any particulars as to our route, was equally unsuccessful, the astonished clerk remarking - ‘ I was once asked for a ticket to the North Pole, but never to Iceland.’ The author, along with her brother & a couple of friends, took passage to Iceland on a regular trading boat, and as the ship stopped a various ports in Iceland, the travellers hired horses for their one to four day excursions. Ethel Alec-Tweedie writes descriptively and is observant. She also stirs up controversy by not riding side-saddle as a lady should, but astride like a man which she considers far more practical & comfortable on the harsh, & often poorly formed, Icelandic roads. The highlight of the trip is a ride from Reykjavik to the geysers.
March 10, 2017
Although it took me over a year to read this book, it genuinely held my interest. Well written and very interesting for anyone who has travelled this bit of the world.
I loved Mrs Alec-Tweedie. She writes well and had adventures.
I loved Mrs Alec-Tweedie. She writes well and had adventures.
May 5, 2016
A very dated book. This would probably have been a very informative read to a traveller to Iceland at the end of the nineteenth century or the beginning of the twentieth century, but no longer can fill the purpose of travel guide, however it can be viewed as a historical read. The attitude shown towards the women when they had to ride like men, shows how dated the book is.
On the whole I mostly enjoyed reading this book, however some parts were very dry. The author was obviously a gutsy and brave lady and should be admired for beginning to break stereotypes. The party were obliviously from a very privileged family who could afford to travel and a slightly condescending attitude sometimes shows in the writing. I also found that the book would have benefited from more information about the party themselves and those they met.
On the whole I mostly enjoyed reading this book, however some parts were very dry. The author was obviously a gutsy and brave lady and should be admired for beginning to break stereotypes. The party were obliviously from a very privileged family who could afford to travel and a slightly condescending attitude sometimes shows in the writing. I also found that the book would have benefited from more information about the party themselves and those they met.
July 28, 2019
A travelogue of the author's visit to Iceland in the 1890s, this book feels very much of its time - full of unquestioning assumptions about the benefits of civilization and the existence of national characteristics.
Despite being short (just over 100 pages in the Project Gutenburg ebook version) I found it a trifle repetitive in places and tedious in others. The descriptions of what the party ate for each meal are simultaneously weirdly fascinating and deeply tedious. To my mind, the best part was the preface (to the second edition) with its lively description of the scandal the first edition had caused due to the revelation that the ladies of the party had ridden astride and its defence of this practice.
Despite being short (just over 100 pages in the Project Gutenburg ebook version) I found it a trifle repetitive in places and tedious in others. The descriptions of what the party ate for each meal are simultaneously weirdly fascinating and deeply tedious. To my mind, the best part was the preface (to the second edition) with its lively description of the scandal the first edition had caused due to the revelation that the ladies of the party had ridden astride and its defence of this practice.
August 18, 2016
The book was more interesting than I thought it was going to be.
A young woman decides to visit somewhere during the summer. She talks her brother and a few friends into going with her to Iceland. Apparently, the book created quite a scandal because the young woman advocates riding astride for comfort and safety.
The last chapter was the worst. The author asked her father to include a few words about geysers and volcanoes. Rather boring.
A young woman decides to visit somewhere during the summer. She talks her brother and a few friends into going with her to Iceland. Apparently, the book created quite a scandal because the young woman advocates riding astride for comfort and safety.
The last chapter was the worst. The author asked her father to include a few words about geysers and volcanoes. Rather boring.
March 13, 2014
1880s London aristo youths tour Iceland. A free-for-kindle that I only downloaded as important going to Iceland. Would have abandoned it otherwise - slight, poorly written, not very informative about Iceland in that time or about her party or most of those she meets.
October 17, 2015
A fascinating read from 1894, for so many reasons: the arguments for ladies to be able to ride horses "man-style," the off-hand classist remarks, and the observations of a very different era in Iceland.
February 10, 2014
Picked it up because "Iceland" and enjoyed it because of the amazing author. What a brave girl.
December 13, 2016
Fascinating book about a young Victorian woman's travels in Iceland.
April 21, 2017
I'm giving this a 4 star rating for the type of book it is (a well written travel memoir from the late 1800s), but I don't know if this has much appeal or intrigue to people nowadays. Ethel, her brother, and three friends (one later becomes her husband) take off from England for a summer vacation in Iceland. Obviously, they are well to do young adults with the means to do this. Reading this from today's viewpoint you can't help be thankful of your era. Spending countless days in remote areas riding on ponies over rough terrain with long skirts is not for the faint at heart with adventure. There is a great deal devoted to the fact that she didn't ride side saddle the whole time like a "lady", even though riding like a man was more feasible, safe, and easy (she was able to 160 miles on 3.5 days by not sitting sideways). I found it all interesting as I read it on my way to Iceland. So much is still true for Iceland (friendly, hardy, and intelligent people with strong animals and little class divide) yet so much has changed. The stories of the people they met like a "mad man" who jumped off their ship and a young boy who had his foot boiled by a hot spring (her brother was studying as a doctor so helped) were interesting tidbits. At the time they went, Iceland was so far removed with little to no English speakers and now it's tourism has boomed. Ethel was a trend setter and earlier female adventurer!!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews