Views afoot; or, Europe seen with knapsack and staff

by Bayard Taylor

Traveling in Europe, he started the journey leaving New York in 1844. Pictures are included for this elite traveler.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

506 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1846

About the author

Bayard Taylor was a poet, literary critic, translator, fiction and travel author.

His interest in poetry was coached by the influential critic and editor Rufus Wilmot Griswold, who encouraged him to write a volume of poetry. Published at Philadelphia in 1844, Ximena, or the Battle of the Sierra Morena, and other Poems was dedicated to Griswold. It made little income, but indirectly was a means of his introduction to The New York Tribune.

With the money from his poetry and an advance for some journalistic work to be done in Europe, Taylor set sail for Europe. The young poet spent a happy time in roaming on foot through certain districts of England, France, Germany and Italy; this tour of almost two years cost him only £100. The accounts which he sent from Europe to The New York Tribune, The Saturday Evening Post, and The United States Gazette were so highly appreciated that on Taylor's return to America, he was advised to compile his articles into book form.

In 1846, he published Views Afoot, or Europe seen with Knapsack and Staff (2 vols, New York). This book's success brought Taylor recognition as an author. He was asked to serve as an editorial assistant for Graham's Magazine for a few months in 1848. That same year, Horace Greeley, then editor of the Tribune, placed Taylor on his staff, thus securing Taylor a certain if moderate income.

His poem "Greetings to America" was set to music by Julius Benedict and performed by the singer at numerous concerts on her tour of the United States.

Reviews

[Bob Way · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was interesting to the point of frequent stops to view Google Maps to understand where he was (including using the accompanying photos to actually see much of what he was describing) and then to the internet to read about the history of the places he seemed to know so much more of than I. In particular, a map of what Europe looked like in the 1840’s. Often the big question in my mind was how much of what he describes was destroyed during two world wars. But many of the sights he describes can be found on the web to be fairly intact today. Any way, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, made more interesting as he is a distant relative of mine. One of the best travel books I have ever read.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though Bayard Taylor is a keen observant, this isn't near as interesting as Eldorado, mainly because there aren't any descriptions of interactions with the people. They're mainly descriptions of the towns and his hikes around them. And, if you haven't been there, well ....

So, I'm quitting this one.