This book is an introduction to travel writing in English between 1500 and the present.

Introduction Peter Hulme and Tim Youngs; 1. Stirrings and searchings (1500-1720) William H. Sherman; 2. The Grand Tour and after James Buzard; 3. Exploration and travel outside Europe (1720-1914) Roy Bridges; 4. Modernism and travel (1880-1940) Helen Carr; 5. Travelling to write (1940-2000) Peter Hulme; 6. The Middle East/Arabia: 'the cradle of Islam' Billie Melman; 7. South America/Amazonia: the forest of marvels Neil L. Whitehead; 8. The Pacific/Tahiti: Queen of the south sea isles Rod Edmond; 9. Africa/the Congo: the politics of darkness Tim Youngs; 10. The Isles/Ireland: the wilder shore Glenn Hooper; 11. India/Calcutta: city of palaces and dreadful night Kate Teltscher; 12. The west/California: sites of the future Bruce Greenfield; 13. Travel writing and gender Susan Bassnett; 14. Travel writing and ethnography Joan Pau Rubiés; 15. Travel writing and its theory Mary Baine Campbell; Chronology; Further reading.