Travellers in Eighteenth Century Europe: The Sexes Abroad

Explores the cultural and intellectual impact of 18th-century European travel through first-hand accounts, including letters, diaries, poems, and art.

An edited collection with contributions by leading scholars and writers brought together by a prize-winning author who has edited the text and contributed chapters.

The Grand Tour and touring was a part of the education of every young lady and gentleman in the eighteenth century and also scholars, poets, writers. scientists and commentators. Visits to Greece and Italy via France and Switzerland, and taking in Turkey, were usual. Both sexes travelled extensively taking extended trips The book will examine first-hand accounts of the impact of foreign travel, and will include written sources including letters, travel diaries, journals and creative response in poems, music and paintings. The book is especially important, original and relevant in light of possible xenophobia and views of Europe and near-Europe as 'foreign'; and there have been several works expressing negative views. But travellers here saw their visits in a positive light and questions of 'otherness' and exoticism are examined with cultural appreciation overcoming 'cultural appropriation'. Questions examined include how men and women saw new worlds, what delighted them, personal influences and interaction with others - sexually, domestic relations and friendships - and influence on their work in poems, art and letters.