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The question might be asked, "Why buy travel books when there is so much free information on the Internet?" It is a good question to which there are equally good answers. First, there is an enormous amount of travel information in books that is not yet available on the Internet. There are also collections of essays and travel writings that are a delight to read but are only in print form. Despite the introduction of portable and hand-held computers and e-books, conventional books very often remain the most convenient and enjoyable to use.
In the many geographical sections of this web site, we will recommend books that are informative, enlightening and enjoyable to read to help you appreciate and be informed about the locations that we cover. TravelData21 is also affiliated with a number of reliable booksellers to whom we have provided links to assist with on-line purchases.
Books about distant and faraway places have been written from the earliest of times with Marco Polo being among the better-known of early authors. The development of the Grand Tour and expansion of European empires gave impetus to the publication of travel writing that continued to expand with the improvement in means of travel, especially steamships.
Many authors, while writing about fictional characters and places, incorporated their travel experiences in their novels. Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene are two of the most noted from the early and mid-20th Century. In the latter part of the same century, travel writers such as Jan Morris, Paul Theroux and Frances Mayes have been a delight to read. Some authors, like Morris and Theroux, have traveled a world-wide stage, while others, like Mayes, have focused on a particular region. In her case, Mayes is noted for her books about Tuscany.
There are several series of guide books - Automobile Association (UK), Baedeker, Blue Guides, Cadogan, Eyewitness, Fodor's, Frommer's, Karen Brown's, Let's Go, Lonely Planet, Michelin, Moon and Rough Guides - on the market that do an excellent job of covering the most popular as well as the less-traveled destinations. For some people, one series will do just as well as another. There are, however, some differences that will make one series a better choice for some travelers while another will be the preferred choice of others. Click here for summaries of the major guide book series.
If you are interested in travel writing and photography, visit our page on writing travel essays