Abroad: British Literary Traveling Between the Wars

Abroad examines British travel writing from the period between World War I and World War II. The book focuses on works by literary figures like Graham Greene, Robert Byron, D.H. Lawrence, and Evelyn Waugh during their journeys through Europe and beyond. Through analysis of letters, diaries, and published accounts, Fussell maps the evolution of travel literature during this transformative era. He traces how the rise of tourism and changes in transportation technology impacted both the act of travel itself and the way authors wrote about their experiences. The text explores specific locations that captured British writers' imagination during this period, including Mediterranean destinations and the remnants of the Grand Tour routes. Fussell examines how these authors distinguished themselves from tourists while documenting their encounters with foreign cultures. The book ultimately reveals how interwar travel writing reflected broader cultural anxieties about modernity, empire, and Britain's changing place in the world. Through these journeys abroad, writers grappled with questions of authenticity, tradition, and the rapidly shifting landscape of European civilization.

Readers appreciate Fussell's analysis of how interwar British travel writing reflected class consciousness and colonial attitudes. Several note his sharp observations about the tourism-vs-traveler debate and how travel writers of the era processed WWI's impact. Readers highlight the chapters on Robert Byron and D.H. Lawrence as particularly strong. Many connect with Fussell's examination of how these writers sought "authentic" experiences while looking down on tourists. Common criticisms include Fussell's occasional meandering tangents and his focus on a narrow slice of upper-class male writers. Some readers find his tone elitist and his arguments repetitive. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (219 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 ratings) Sample review quotes: "Insightful on class but needs more diverse perspectives" - Goodreads "Dense but rewarding analysis of how trauma shaped travel writing" - Amazon "Too much focus on privileged viewpoints" - LibraryThing

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The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton An examination of travel literature combines philosophical insights with historical accounts of writers' journeys through foreign lands.

Pleasure Seekers by Suzanne Rodriguez Documents the lives of expatriate women writers who traveled and wrote in Europe during the interwar period.

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway A portrait of Paris in the 1920s captures the intersection of travel writing, literary creation, and expatriate life through encounters with notable writers and artists.

🌍 During the period between WWI and WWII that Fussell explores, the word "abroad" shifted from being primarily used as an adverb to being used as a noun, reflecting how foreign travel had become a distinct concept and destination unto itself. ✈️ Paul Fussell wrote this book drawing from his expertise as both a WWII veteran and a cultural critic, bringing unique insight into how the trauma of WWI influenced British travel writing in the 1920s and 1930s. 📚 The book examines works by notable writers including D.H. Lawrence, Robert Byron, and Graham Greene, revealing how their travels were often attempts to escape the industrialization and modernization of Britain. 🗺️ Fussell identifies what he calls "travel books" as distinct from mere guidebooks, defining them as works that follow a quest-like narrative structure and feature the author as a main character. 🚂 The development of Thomas Cook's travel company and organized tourism serves as a backdrop to the book, showing how middle-class travelers sought to distinguish themselves from "mere tourists" by portraying themselves as more authentic travelers.