Each country has its classic novel, the book that epitomises the place and creates an atmosphere so vivid you can imagine yourself there, even when you’ve never been before in real life. Not all writer’s have the ability to create a sense of place, to integrate a location in a way that feels authentic and exciting. Books are the ultimate way to travel in your head, and can be the perfect guide when you’re planning your next IRL trip.  The 50 states that make up the union are no different. You may not be able to visit all them before you die, but you can definitely read about them. Over the course of a few articles, we will round up...

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One of the best ways to feel more immersed in a culture before you travel is to read about it! Go beyond the blogs, Google reviews and travel influencers with fiction classics that are truly “transportive”. Delving into another culture through literature is a great way to connect with the place you are visiting, beyond the typical tourist trail. Here are a few of my favourite picks to inspire you for your next big trip!   ….Japan   Murakami is probably Japan's biggest literary export, his book having been widely translated and even made into movies. His books can be complex, even difficult at times. Reading a Murakami book for the first time could even be likened to being in...

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Choosing a baby name can feel like an impossible task. It has to be unique, yet not so unique that it is unpronounceable or will make your child an object of ridicule in school. Names rise and fall in popularity, most usually a particular celebrity or tv show is dominating the headlines. One inspiration for naming your baby could be classic literature. Many of these names perfectly skirt the line between memorable and classic. Whilst they may not sound as modern or unique as the current trendy baby names, you can be sure that they will stand the test of time.   Anaïs Literary Inspiration: The French-Cuban Writer Anaïs Nin. French, pronounced Ah-nai-eece. Whilst it doesn’t have the easiest pronunciation,...

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Ernest Hemingway - A Moveable Feast   Oysters and white wine "As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans." A Moveable Feast Quote Print If you’re not a fan of shellfish, this passage in Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast might just change your mind. Even if you’re not convinced, you will come away from this paragraph feeling like you were with...

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It’s summer - and that means summer holidays! Whether you are planning a two-week break or just a weekend getaway, why not seek out some literary inspiration for your travels? Walk in the footsteps of your favourite writers and soak up the sites that inspired their great works of literature.   Even though most of these authors lived a long time ago, they have left their stamp on some of the world’s most beautiful travel spots.   Read on for our guide to my top literary travel trips!   F. Scott Fitzgerald - Côte D’Azur   As one of the 1920s “bright young things”, Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda frequented one of the hottest locales of their day - namely...

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