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A view of Jane Austen's red brick home in Chawton, a source of inspiration for some of history’s greatest novels. Miranda Ash2006. CC BY-NC 2.0.
Literary Tours Across the World: Finding Inspiration at Your Favorite Writers’ Homes
As the pandemic continues on, many have rekindled their love for reading to pass the time. Books are a world of their own that can take the reader on a journey beyond their bedroom or couch, giving the brain a break from the turbulent world outside. Thankfully for book lovers, imaginary places in text can easily come to life through literary tours.
These tours take readers through famous writers’ homes, the towns they lived in, and the places that inspired them. They are guided by literary experts who detail the history and biography of the authors while highlighting the settings of the books and sometimes even poetry, always making sure to address the location’s significance in reference to the text. These types of tours are available on almost every continent and whatever genre is your preference, there is a tour for you.
For fans of classic British writers, readers can take advantage of tours in the United Kingdom such as the “Jane Austen Tour,” the “Charles Dickens Tour,” and even visits to the house that the Brontes were raised in. Some of these tours even include stays in hotels the authors frequented, such as a stay at the five-star Brown’s Hotel–the oldest hotel in London–on the “Agatha Christie Tour.” It is said that Christie was a regular guest at the hotel and some believe that Brown’s inspired her novel “At Bertram’s Hotel.”
Those who enjoy modernist American writings can visit the home, and now museum, of Ernest Hemingway in Old Town Key West, Florida. While it is an independent tour with guides ready for questions, the Hemingway Home is more than just an estate. After touring the home, one can meet some of the 40 cats that roam the garden surrounding the house, famously known as “Hemingway’s cats” for their extra paw appendage. The rooms and gardens of the Hemingway Home are where he crafted some of his greatest works, and the beauty of Key West makes it apparent what drove his inspiration.
Bookworms with an appreciation for Japanese culture can take a tour guided by Asian Art Tours called “Japan from Cover to Cover.” Travelers are provided with transportation, public or private based on your preference, with the tour beginning in Tokyo. Spanning 10 days, each day introduces visitors not only to a place of literary significance, like Matsue Castle, a favorite spot of renowned author Lafcadio Hearn, but also to a notable writer currently living in Japan. They range in occupation, from journalist to haiku poet to a professor of Japanese folklore. The tour ends with a trip to the Adachi Museum of Art. This tour is remarkable as it completely immerses participants in Japanese culture through firsthand experience.
Literary tours are something to look forward to in a post-pandemic world, and they bring greater life to the books we fall in love with. They are a way to bring further appreciation to favorite novels and poems, all while providing scenery and knowledge unique to books themselves.
Renee Richardson
is currently an English student at The University of Georgia. She lives in Ellijay, Georgia, a small mountain town in the middle of Appalachia. A passionate writer, she is inspired often by her hikes along the Appalachian trail and her efforts to fight for equality across all spectrums. She hopes to further her passion as a writer into a flourishing career that positively impacts others.