In Literary Journeys: Mapping Fictional Travels Across the World of Literature John McMurtrie collects succinct, insightful discussions by literary critics, scholars, and other writers of literary fiction titles in which travel is a primary theme or narrative element. Readers will find what might be old favorites like Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn (floating along the Mississippi River) and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (an expedition from Spain to Egypt) alongside possibly less familiar odysseys like those in Icelandic author Halldór Laxness's 1927 The Great Weaver from Kashmir and the more recent Out of Darkness, Shining Light from Zimbabwean author Petina Gappah.
A pleasure to look at as well as to read, the book is stunningly illustrated, inviting readers on a global literary adventure that will help satiate anyone's wanderlust. Each of the more than 75 titles is complemented by visual components: maps, book jackets, author photos, or other impressive photography. Literary Journeys is a surefire gift for any book or travel lover--an inspiring introduction to new novels, authors, and excursions. --Elizabeth DeNoma, executive editor, DeNoma Literary Services, Seattle, Wash.