The travel narrative is the oldest in the world

“The travel narrative is the oldest in the world, the story the wanderer tells to the folk gathered around the fire after his or her return from a journey. “This is what I saw” — news from the wider world; the odd, the strange, the shocking, tales of beasts or of other people. “They’re just like us!” or “They’re not like us at all” The traveler’s tale is always in the nature of a report. And it is the origin of narrative fiction too, the traveler enlivening a dozing group with invented details, embroidering on experience.”
–Paul Theroux, The Tao of Travel (2011)

Posted by | Comments (2)  | June 11, 2012
Category: Travel Quote of the Day


2 Responses to “The travel narrative is the oldest in the world”

  1. Fred Says:

    Good book indeed; for me this quote stands out
    ” I came to realize that i traveled best when i traveled no faster than a dog could trot”
    -Gardner McKay, Journey Without a Map (2009)