The Cambridge Companion to American Travel Writing

TravelwritinghasalwaysbeenintimatelylinkedwiththeconstructionofAmericanidentity.Occupyingthespacebetweenfactandfiction,itexposesculturalfaultlinesandrevealsthechangingdesiresandanxietiesofboththetravellerandthereadingpublic.Thesespecially-commissionedessaystracethejourneystakenbywritersfromthepre-revolutionaryperiodrightuptothepresent.Theyexamineawiderangeofresponsestotheproblemsposedbylandscapesfoundbothathomeandabroad,fromtheMississippiandtheSouthwesttoEuropeandtheHolyLand.Throughout,thecontributorsfocusontheroleplayedbytravelwritinginthedefinitionandformulationofnationalidentity,andconsidertheexperiencesofminoritywritersaswellascanonicalauthors.ThisCompanionformsaninvaluableguideforstudentsapproachingthisnew,importantandexcitingsubjectforthefirsttime.