Going to Scotland? I suggest you pick up whatever you can find by Nigel Tranter. My favorites are his Robert the Bruce Trilogy and the Stewart Trilogy. If you plan to go further north, like to the Orkneys (Rick, you've got to go there!), look for George Mackay Brown — a super-great writer whose work is steeped in the Isles.
Jim Paris <email>
Los Angeles, CA   USA   08/01/00

I recommend "Italian Neighbors" and "An Italian Education" by Tim Parks, an Englishman married to an Italian woman, raising their family in a small town near Verona. He's a terrific writer with a keen eye. The books are entertaining and sharply observant and, above all, real! This isn't the usual romanticized version of Italy written by someone renovating a farmhouse in Tuscany. He takes you on a practical and profound "tour" of his life in Italy.

"An Italian Education" was written after "Italian Neighbors" and I preferred the second book to the first, although the first is still very good. Each can be read by itself, but, for maximum appreciation, I recommend both. Enjoy!
<email>
  USA   08/01/00

Even though they were written over a century ago, Mark Twain's "A Tramp Abroad" and "The Innocents Abroad" are still funny and surprisingly relevent. They also help set the stage as to the appeal of such tourist must-see's as Heidelburg and Venice.
CyberEl
Madison, WI   USA   07/31/00

Dickens' "Pictures from Italy" is a funny and fascinating mystery. Henry James' "Italian Hours" is very readable, as his style is so lovely and lyrical. As part of the book he gives an exhaustive analysis of the various neighborhoods of Rome. Also, Marguerite Yourcenar's "Memoirs of Hadrian" — a well-researched historical novel, a must for anyone interested in ancient Roman history or art.
Julia <email>
TX   USA   06/09/00

Peggy Guggenheim Autobiography — "Out Of This Century: Confessions of an Art Addict" — I bought my copy at the Guggenheim Museum in Venice. It was great to have a book to read through my travels that was humorous, interesting and insightful.
Colleen Leslie <email>
Oakhurst, NJ   USA   06/01/00

If visiting southwestern France, try "A Walk Across France." It's great! A friend sent it to me as a gift on my return to the US and it helped me relive my special experiences!
Lisa Dreishmire <email>
Dallas, TX   USA   05/28/00

If you are visiting Paris, I highly recommend Henry Miller's "Quiet Days in Clicy."
Rosalyn Collins-Shays <email>
San Francisco, CA   USA   05/27/00

For those going to or returning from London . . . Stephen Inwood's History of London is a marvelously vivid recounting of the city's history. Also, mysteries set in London abound, but by far my favorite series is Bruce Alexander's Sir John Fielding series, set in the 18th century. Start with the first, Blind Justice, and read the books in order. Then go to Covent Garden and try not to resist imagining the characters in the books.

On Paris . . . I'm not a big Hemingway fan, but A Moveable Feast paints a terrifically evocative picture of a writer's life in the city. Check out the chapters on Shakespeare & Co. bookshop, on being hungry in Paris, and on life along the Seine.

For all travellers, consider Jeffrey Kottler's Travel That Can Change Your Life: How to Create A Transformative Experience (Jossey Bass, 1997). It may be too therapy-oriented and touchy-feeley for some, but it's got some good advice on travel as a form of personal change.
David Yamada <email>
Boston, MA   USA   05/25/00

If you plan to visit a castle, you must read, "Life in A Medieval Castle." (Don't have author's name in front of me.) It explains the different parts of the castle, i.e., bailey, mott, keep, etc. Tells who did what in what part. Ever wonder about sewage and water supply? It gives you the background to understand the guide book. You can do your own tour pretty much without a guide, except for the details of who was imprisoned there, etc. Easy to read.
peggy
Houston,    USA   05/19/00

Anything by Ernest Hemingway...especially The Sun Also Rises and I loved the short story "Hills Like White Elephants".
Jamie Halsey <email>
Sacramento, CA   USA   05/09/00

One of the best European historical novels I have read is Louis L'amour's "The Walking Drum." Yes, this is the western writer, but L'amour spent years in Europe researching this story of a 12th-century man wandering from France to Moorish Spain to Instanbul in search of his father.

Lamour had a great appreciation for other cultures, their contributions to civilization and their languages. The book may be too much of an adventure for some, but I really gained a greater understanding of the complexities of European history.
Johnny <email>
  USA   05/02/00

"Vendela in Venice," by Christina Bjork is an excellent guidebook/fiction travelogue aimed at children but interesting and fun for all. Ms. Bjork, who also wrote "Linnea in Monet's Garden," has outdone herself. The book follows Vendela and her dad as they visit Venice and explore many "back door" sights. The book gives a simple history of the city and in particular the horses of St. Mark's. It is filled with photo-like illustrations, maps and historical tidbits. If you are taking a child to Venice, you must read this book.
Gary <email>
Hanford, CA   USA   04/11/00

If you are going to art museums, try "Art for Dummies." I found that my enjoyment of art exploded. I'm now an addict. HELP ME!

CA   04/10/00

Try "Culture Shock: France" (or whatever country; it's a series) for some in-depth info and tips. It was recommended to me by the American Church in Paris.

  USA   03/31/00

Before visiting Amsterdam, I recommend reading "The Diary of Anne Frank," especially if you're planning on visiting the Anne Frank House. I am re-reading it now (for the first time since high school) and am gaining so many new insights into life in Holland during the 1940s.
<email>
Milwaukee, WI   USA   03/24/00