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A View of the World: Selected Journalism
Includes the piece of journalism Norman was most proud of, an article on the devastation of Amerindian populations in Brazil, which resulted in the establishment of Survival International, which campaigns to protect tribal people and their environments. Travel writing that makes you laugh, but also brings home the world's hurt in glorious understatement.
- GenresTravelJournalism
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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142 people want to read
About the author
Norman Lewis
183 books150 followersNorman Lewis was a British writer renowned for his richly detailed travel writing, though his literary output also included twelve novels and several volumes of autobiography. Born in Enfield, Middlesex in 1908 to a Welsh family, Lewis was raised in a household steeped in spiritualism, a belief system embraced by his grieving parents following the deaths of his elder brothers. Despite these early influences, Lewis grew into a skeptic with a deeply observant eye, fascinated by cultures on the margins of the modern world.
His early adulthood was marked by various professions—including wedding photographer, umbrella wholesaler, and even motorcycle racer—before he served in the British Army during World War II. His wartime experiences in Algiers, Tunisia, and especially Naples provided the basis for one of his most celebrated books, Naples '44, widely praised as one of the finest firsthand accounts of the war. His writing blended keen observation with empathy and dry wit, traits that defined all of his travel works.
Lewis had a deep affinity for threatened cultures and traditional ways of life. His travels took him across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean. Among his most important books are A Dragon Apparent, an evocative portrait of French Indochina before the Vietnam War; Golden Earth, on postwar Burma; An Empire of the East, set in Indonesia; and A Goddess in the Stones, about the tribal communities of India. In Sicily, he explored the culture and reach of the Mafia in The Honoured Society and In Sicily, offering insight without sensationalism.
In 1969, his article “Genocide in Brazil,” detailing atrocities committed against Indigenous tribes, led directly to the formation of Survival International, an organization committed to protecting tribal peoples worldwide. Lewis often cited this as the most meaningful achievement of his career, expressing lifelong concern for the destructive influence of missionary activity and modernization on indigenous societies.
Though Lewis also wrote fiction, his literary reputation rests primarily on his travel writing, which was widely admired for its moral clarity, understated style, and commitment to giving voice to overlooked communities. He remained an unshakable realist throughout his life, famously stating, “I do not believe in belief,” though he found deep joy in simply being alive.
Lewis died in 2003 in Essex, survived by his third wife Lesley and their son Gawaine, as well as five other children from previous marriages.
His early adulthood was marked by various professions—including wedding photographer, umbrella wholesaler, and even motorcycle racer—before he served in the British Army during World War II. His wartime experiences in Algiers, Tunisia, and especially Naples provided the basis for one of his most celebrated books, Naples '44, widely praised as one of the finest firsthand accounts of the war. His writing blended keen observation with empathy and dry wit, traits that defined all of his travel works.
Lewis had a deep affinity for threatened cultures and traditional ways of life. His travels took him across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean. Among his most important books are A Dragon Apparent, an evocative portrait of French Indochina before the Vietnam War; Golden Earth, on postwar Burma; An Empire of the East, set in Indonesia; and A Goddess in the Stones, about the tribal communities of India. In Sicily, he explored the culture and reach of the Mafia in The Honoured Society and In Sicily, offering insight without sensationalism.
In 1969, his article “Genocide in Brazil,” detailing atrocities committed against Indigenous tribes, led directly to the formation of Survival International, an organization committed to protecting tribal peoples worldwide. Lewis often cited this as the most meaningful achievement of his career, expressing lifelong concern for the destructive influence of missionary activity and modernization on indigenous societies.
Though Lewis also wrote fiction, his literary reputation rests primarily on his travel writing, which was widely admired for its moral clarity, understated style, and commitment to giving voice to overlooked communities. He remained an unshakable realist throughout his life, famously stating, “I do not believe in belief,” though he found deep joy in simply being alive.
Lewis died in 2003 in Essex, survived by his third wife Lesley and their son Gawaine, as well as five other children from previous marriages.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 19, 2023
This book was highly anticipated (by me), as I am a bit of a fan of Norman Lewis, I found this a bit hit and miss. Twenty chapters, or stand alone articles, generally a different location for each (although there are three for Cuba, three for Spain etc), from a range of time periods. They were mostly articles commissioned by various newspapers.
Some were excellent, some I found less engaging. A great diversity in topics, and writing styles.
Obviously, the most important (and longest article) is Genocide, described by Lewis himself as his life's greatest achievement, describes the treatment of Indians in Brazil [1968]. This article led to the Brazilian government changing its laws in the treatment of Indians, and was the forerunner to his well known book The Missionaries.
Other articles that I found excellent were The Bullfight Revisited, Rangoon Express, High Adventure with the Choco's in Panama (six hours required), Ibiza and Assassination in Ibiza.
A short passage of writing I liked: P23 - A Letter from Belize
"I found 'El Insecto', which was a four seated Cessna, in a field full of yellow daises,and helped the pilot to pull it out on to the runway. When it too off, he leaned across me to make sure that the door was properly shut. There were a few cosy rattles in the cabin, of the kind that most cars develop after some years of honourable service. These added to the pleasantly casual feeling of the trip."
These articles ranged from 2 to 5 stars, but on balance it sat between 3 and four, rounded up for the excellence of the above mentioned articles.
Some were excellent, some I found less engaging. A great diversity in topics, and writing styles.
Obviously, the most important (and longest article) is Genocide, described by Lewis himself as his life's greatest achievement, describes the treatment of Indians in Brazil [1968]. This article led to the Brazilian government changing its laws in the treatment of Indians, and was the forerunner to his well known book The Missionaries.
Other articles that I found excellent were The Bullfight Revisited, Rangoon Express, High Adventure with the Choco's in Panama (six hours required), Ibiza and Assassination in Ibiza.
A short passage of writing I liked: P23 - A Letter from Belize
"I found 'El Insecto', which was a four seated Cessna, in a field full of yellow daises,and helped the pilot to pull it out on to the runway. When it too off, he leaned across me to make sure that the door was properly shut. There were a few cosy rattles in the cabin, of the kind that most cars develop after some years of honourable service. These added to the pleasantly casual feeling of the trip."
These articles ranged from 2 to 5 stars, but on balance it sat between 3 and four, rounded up for the excellence of the above mentioned articles.
October 29, 2025
Stole it from a flat in Istambul, gave it away to a 4-week-long situationship from Andalucia that wanted to read more in english. Globe trotting
June 29, 2018
Selection of Lewis’ travel writing, fascinating and written with clarity and understanding.
September 20, 2013
When look suggested this book I was really pleased as I like to rotate fact with fiction. However I didn't' realise then that most of the stories were written in the 50s and 60s and that he was primarily a travel writer. The first couple of stories were difficult to get into. I was uneasy by the post colonial superiority which I later realised was not apparent. As I got used to his style I became fascinated by the cultures and traditions in the places like Ibiza (veiled women as a result of Moorish influence) Liberia, where the ex American slaves to do what had been done to them - how Bolivia was planning to import 'superior' farmers from South Africa - What happened to the South American Indians. How a terrified battalion of ex Nazi soviet Muslim soldiers were handed back by the British to a certain death and my favourite story ' The Rangoon Express' about the serenity of gentle people as they struggle to get from A to B in the middle of a war - the important thing being one's conduct in facing them. Wonderful stuff.
June 1, 2011
The first of Norman Lewis books that I've ever read. I can assure that after this I will be reading a lot more!
A collection of his essays and articles rather than a stand alone book. Lewis prose, especially his descriptions are simply sublime and his cheeful and unjudgemental view of a changed and in most cases vanished world makes every chapter a delight and as all good travel writing should do, makes you want to go and see and experience yourself.
His famous essay on the genocide of the Brazillian Indians is impeccably written and his style which normally makes the everyday and ordinary seem brilliant and beautiful, in this case serves to highlight how awful the atrocities that have been committed truly are
A collection of his essays and articles rather than a stand alone book. Lewis prose, especially his descriptions are simply sublime and his cheeful and unjudgemental view of a changed and in most cases vanished world makes every chapter a delight and as all good travel writing should do, makes you want to go and see and experience yourself.
His famous essay on the genocide of the Brazillian Indians is impeccably written and his style which normally makes the everyday and ordinary seem brilliant and beautiful, in this case serves to highlight how awful the atrocities that have been committed truly are
December 24, 2021
In poco più di cinquanta pagine si condensano pennellate magnifiche di paesaggi mentali e fisici di una terra malinconica e aspra. Bellissime anche le fotografie di Pablo Volta
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews