Orientations
An Anthology of East European Travel Writing,
ca. 1550–2000
East Looks West, Vol. 1
Edited by
Wendy Bracewell, Senior Lecturer in History,
School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University
College London
Excerpts from over 100 travel writings of Europe, from
16th c. pilgrimage diaries thru early specimens of modern
tourism accounts to 20th c. impressions from the other
side of the Iron Curtain… By focusing on east
European travel writings, this work enlarges both the
documentary base and the terms of the debate over a
rich source for discussions of identities and mentalities;
knowledge and power; gender; and cultural change.
The texts – chosen for their relevance, but
literary criteria have also been taken into account
– illustrate the variety of ways in which east
Europeans have written about the West. Most of the material
is presented in English for the first time or, in a
few cases, rescued from dusty oblivion in long out-of-print
volumes. Each text is introduced with a short passage
placing it in context.
Contents
East European Travel Writing: A Guide to Orientation
I. Europe in All its Variety (16th–18
th centuries) Words for the Traveller Variations: Pilgrims,
Emissaries, Scholars and Adventurers II. Voyages
of Discovery (18th-mid-19 th centuries) On Travel Writing
Discoveries in Europe Greeks: from the Latin West
to Europe South Slav travellers: Light and darkness,
East and West From Moldavia and Wallachia Hungarian
reformers From Poland, before and after partition Domopis:
Travel at Home Domopis: Slav Travels Variations:
Three Women III. On the Tourist Track
(mid-19th century–1940s) Tourists and Travel Writing
The European Metropolis Exoticism and the Self Domopis:
Know your Country Why Keep Writing about Travel? Variations
IV. Europe Divided (1945-1989) Tasks
of Travel Writing Domopis: Fraternal Travels
Cold War Variations V. A Single Europe?
(since 1989) Notes for Further Reading
"Bracewell's anthology offers a whirlwind tour
of almost five centuries and many more countries and
languages. What emerges after reading the book from
cover to cover is a symbolic map of Europe which undergoes
clear changes over time, but which also glitters invitingly
yet elusively at any given historical moment. The selections
are so carefully chosen that style, stance, and key
questions are presented in anywhere from half a page
to five pages (the latter is reserved for literary gems).
The translations are eminently readable.
In short, this book is an enjoyable and informative
read, a good resource for scholars of Europe, and exceptionally
well suited for use in the classroom." - Slavic
and East European Journal
"Wendy Bracewell's anthology makes it possible
to imagine a dialogue between Western and Eastern European
travellers. In order to represent 20 languages Bracewell
collaborated with a team of editors and translators.
The remarkable variety of selections in the anthology
includes both published and unpublished sources. The
book consists of five chronologically sequenced sections,
each of which includes clusters that highlight themes
or itineraries characteristic of the given period."
- Studies in Travel Writing
"The reader may find literary gems, presenting
insights on customs, mentalities, cultural differences,
gender, and class, as well as describing the scenery
of the visited land. Encompassing both the nation and
the world, these perceptive glimpses, as well as descriptions
of cities and terrain of European countries, place in
focus political and cutlural issues that create the
East-West apposition - for example liminality, inferiority,
and practice of justice. Summing up: recommended."
- Choice
2009
424 pages
ISBN 978-963-9776-10-4 cloth $50.00 / €45.00 /
£35.00
This is the first volume of a three-part set of
East Looks West. Vol. 2. Undern
Eastern Eyes. A Comparative Introduction to
East European Travel Writing on Europe. Vol. 3. A
Bibliography of East European Travel Writing on Europe.
ISBN 978-963-9776-09-8 ö (number of the set)
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