Jan Morris: Around the World in Eighty Years

by George Band (Contributor), David Fieldhouse (Contributor), Paul Theroux (Contributor)

In honor of the 80th birthday of British travel journalist Jan Morris, her colleagues and successors have put together this celebratory, biographical tribute, which explores both the writer and her writing. By revisiting more than 50 years of descriptions of her travels, her epic three-volume history of the British Empire, and her startling and thoughtful memoir about her sex change, the volume contains many full, intimate insights into her character from renowned contributors, including George Band, Arturo di Stefano, David Fieldhouse, Don Geroge, David Hurn, Pico Iyer, Robert McCrum, Geoffrey Moorhouse, Patrick Nairn, Jim Perrin, Hilary Rubenstein, Colin Thubron, Erica Wagner, Alan Whicker, Simon Winchester, and Peregrine Wortsthorne.

Genres: Travel

120 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With an introduction by Paul Theroux, this collection of tributes to Jan Morris for her eightieth birthday makes very good reading.

The contributors are worthy literary figures in their own right - mostly editors, newspaper correspondents, adventurers, travellers. They describe someone of unique personality and express tremendous respect, admiration, even love for Jan. She must be a remarkable person; she has unobtrusively helped and encouraged many other writers; is universally respected, even loved by those she has worked with. Many regard her as the best living travel writer, although the scope of her work is wider than that.

Samples of her writing reveal a gap in my reading experience that needs to be remedied urgently. I've ordered two from a long list of her books and can't wait to get them.

[Rae]

Simon Winchester. Memories. Eightieth birthday. Tributes from friends. More books to add to TBR.