Unsuitable for Ladies: An Anthology of Women Travellers

This is a themed selection of excerpts, arranged geographically, all by women travellers. Other than an introduction, then a ‘Setting Out' chapter, and a final ‘Coming Home' chapter, the excerpts are arranged by the place they occur - sort of by continent, but Europe is split up much further.

The source material is great - all those incredible women travellers of high achievement (only picking a few of my favourites) such as: Ella Maillart, Ethel Manin, Freya Stark, Isabella Bird and including some of the more modern women travellers - Robyn Davidson, Christina Dodwell, Marika Hanbury-Tenison, Dervla Murphy & Betina Selby. There are many, many others.

I have to say the format of this book didn't engage with me. Although proposed by the author as a dip-in type book, it isn't in my nature to read that way. Reading it cover to cover, I found it hard to get the continuity with the short excerpts, and this effected my rating. Where I probably benefited more from this book is the list of source material - where I have added a few books to my list ‘to source'.

Still a solid 3 stars.

‰ЫПI envy the easy peace of mind of a ruddy milkmaid, who, undisturbed by doubt, hears the sermon, with humility, every Sunday, not having confounded the sentiments of natural duty in her head by the vain-enquiries of the schoools, who may be more learned, yet, after all, must remain as ignorant.‰Ыќ ‰ЫУ Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, “Letters ... Written, during her Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa”

‰ЫПEverything seems unreal or unnecessary, everything is dressed up. / All these people moving about, sitting still, in a hurry, catching trains, eating long dinners, dressing themselves, looking at each other dressed ‰ЫУ what does it all mean? Was all this going on when we were in that other world which we have just left, that great silent world where everything was itself and big, and not confused by accessories? Was all this din and bustle going on? It is strange that we should have had no inkling of it, for it seems of so much importance to all these people, idle with a great restlessness; it seems essential to them.‰Ыќ ‰ЫУ Louisa Jebb, “By Desert Ways to Baghdad”