The Warm Arctic by Norman Price was the first piece of travel writing that had a lasting impact on me. I picked up this book because I wanted a taste of the different places the Arctic had to offer. I relished reading about the different countries and people the author encountered.
To date, this book has inspired me to visit three Arctic locations (Lapland, Western Greenland and Svalbard). Some of the places have changed since the author visited them. Disko Bay in Greenland is now significantly more popular; this can be a hindrance (less remote) or a help (more facilities and services available).
Bill Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island was equally inspiring and helped ignite a love for exploring my own country (the UK). My interest lies in the countryside, but his humorous anecdotes made the urban areas equally fascinating to read about.
An extremely entertaining read is Whatever You Do, Don’t Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Allison. I really felt like I was there experiencing the adventures. I’m yet to visit Africa, but this book has made me more determined to go.
I couldn’t write this post without mentioning the work of Michael Palin. I can’t pick out a particular book or piece of writing as there’s so many gems, but I will add that the documentaries are also not to be missed. For a taste of his writing style, visit his blog.
