Patagonia Revisited

"Since its discovery by Magellan in 1520, Patagonia has retained its fascination as a metaphor for The Ultimate. Here Bruce Chatwin and Paul Theroux join forces in a literary quest for some of the instances in which these 'final capes of exile' have affected the literary imagination. This lively and delightful curio had its origins in an entertainment the two writers gave for The Royal Geographical Society, at a time when Paul Theroux was following Bruce Chatwin's 'In Patagonia' with 'The Old Patagonian Express'"--Publisher's description, p. [2] of dust jacket.

Patagonia is the ultimate landscape of the mind. Like Siberia and the Sahara, it has become a metaphor for nothingness and extremity. Its frontiers have stretched beyond the political boundaries of Argentina and Chile to encompass an evocative idea of place. A vast triangle at the southern tip of the New World, this region of barren steppes, soaring peaks and fierce winds was populated by small tribes of hunter-gatherers and roaming nomads when Ferdinand Magellan made landfall in 1520. A fateful moment for the natives, this was the start of an era of adventure and exploration. Soon Sir Francis Drake and John Byron, and sailors from Europe and America, would be exploring Patagonia’s bays and inlets, mapping fjords and channels, whaling, sifting the streams for gold in the endless search for Eldorado. As the land was opened up in the nineteenth century, a crazed Frenchman declared himself King. A group of Welsh families sailed from Liverpool to Northern Patagonia to found a New Jerusalem in the desert. Further down the same river, Butch and Sundance took time out from bank robbing to run a small ranch near the Patagonian Andes. All these, and later travel writers, have left sketches and records, memoirs and diaries evoking Patagonia’s grip on the imagination. From the empty plains to the crashing seas, from the giant dinosaur fossils to glacial sculptures, the landscape has inspired generations of travellers and artists.

"This volume is a selection of the papers presented during the international conference Patagonia: Myths and Realities organised through the Centre of Latin American Cultural Studies at the University of Manchester and held in September 2005 at the Manchester Museum"--Introd.

A selection of the best in travel writing, with both fiction and non-fiction presented together, this companion is for all those who like travelling, like to think about travelling, and who take an interest in their destination. It covers guidebooks as well as books about food, history, art and architecture, religion, outdoor activities, illustrated books, autobiographies, biographies and fiction and lists books both in and out of print. Anderson's Travel Companion is arranged first by continent, then alphabetically by country and then by subject, cross-referenced where necessary. There is a separate section for guidebooks and comprehensive indexes. Sarah Anderson founded the Travel Bookshop in 1979 and is also a journalist and writer on travel subjects. She is known by well-known travel writers such as Michael Palin and Colin Thubron. Michael Palin chose her bookshop as his favourite shop and Colin Thubron and Geoffrey Moorhouse, among others, made suggestions for titles to include in the Travel Companion.

The Rough Guide to Argentina is the ultimate guide to this beguiling country, with detailed coverage of its beautiful cities and wild national parks. You'll find all the practical information you need, as well as suggested itineraries, historical and cultural context, and our expert authors' top tips. Reviews - in Rough Guides' honest, tell-it-like-it-is style - show you the best places to eat, sleep, drink, dance and shop, no matter what your budget. Get to know the cosmopolitan capital, Buenos Aires, with a sultry tango class, dinner at a secretive puerta cerrada restaurant, or a raucous football match; learn about the mysterious gauchos with an asado in a frontier town or a stay at an estancia; and follow in the footsteps of Che Guevara with your own trip along some of South America's most iconic roads. Whether you're climbing mountains and sailing past glaciers or sipping wine in a sunlit vineyard, the clear maps and authoritative prose of The Rough Guide to Argentina will help you make the most of your time in this captivating country.

The brand new, full-colour Rough Guide to Argentina is the definitive travel guide to this epic country, with in-depth coverage of its vibrant cities, rich culture and staggeringly diverse scenery. Lively accounts, clear maps and stunning photography throughout bring Argentina's attractions to life, from the thunderous Iguazú Falls and ravishing capital Buenos Aires to Mendoza's celebrated vineyards and the wild and isolated snow-capped peaks of Tierra del Fuego. Discover shimmering mountain lakes, beautiful valleys and majestic glaciers; ride with gauchos; get seduced by tango; savour the world's finest steak; watch a superclásico football match; or pick up the trail of Bruce Chatwin across Patagonia's dramatic ice fields. With easy-to-use maps, reliable transport advice, inspiring itineraries and expert reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs and shops for all budgets, this indispensable guide will ensure that you don't miss a thing. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Argentina. Now available in ePub format.

Examines the rhetorical role of images in communicating environmental ideas.

This volume explores the fascinating interactions and exchanges between British and Italian cultures from the early modern period to the present. It looks at how these exchanges were mediated through personal encounters, travel writings, and translations, involving a variety of protagonists: explorers, writers, poets, preachers, diplomats and tourists. In particular, this book examines the understanding of Italy as a destination and set of locations, each with their own distinctive geographical character, during a period which saw the creation of the modern Italian state. It also charts the shifts in travelling activity during this period, from early explorers and cartographers, via those taking part in the Grand Tour in the 18th and 19th centuries, to more modern poet-travellers and blogging tourists. Drawing upon literary studies, history, art history, cultural studies, translation studies, sociology and socio-linguistics, this volume takes a cross-disciplinary approach to its rich constellation of ‘cultural transactions’.