Ulysses to Baedeker. Three centuries of travel advice in pocket size

Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Capitool or Michelin – it is just a selection of a seemingly endless supply of travel guides available on the market today. These guidebooks come in different shapes and sizes: from concise, flashy books, that zero in on the most authentic and unexplored hideaways to the more stylish and elaborate versions, aiming for comprehensiveness. They all offer information for devotees of art and culture, but also comprise more specialized sections for hikers and cyclers, foodies and fashionista’s, and numerous other groups. However, this was not always the case. Modern travel guides are the result of a long historical evolution, which started centuries ago. The (digital) collection of travel guides of the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library casts a unique light on the slow genesis of the genre.

Publication year:2020

Keywords:A3 Journal article

Accessibility:Closed