Ever since I was a teenager, my dream has been to travel abroad to Europe and bask in the literary history of Keats, Austen, Shakespeare, Dickens, etc. Well, that was many years ago. One thing led to another and my dream kept getting put aside. That is, until now.
My oldest daughter graduates next year with a degree in communications. She has inherited the writing gene and like me, wants to travel as well. So as a graduation gift to her, and a long awaited gift to myself, we are planning to take a trip together when she completes her last semester.
We have been scoping out websites to organize the most fulfilling trip we could have. My daughter sent me the following link from “lonely planet,” http://www.lonelyplanet.com/great-britain/travel-tips-and-articles/77625, which lists places and towns Jane Austen used in her novels. Needless to say, I am giddy with excitement.
(Photo of Peak District by Shaun Dunphy)
I know thousands of these trips are taken every year, but this is my first time traveling abroad to places I’ve always wanted to visit. In fact, my ultimate dream is to reside in a little cottage somewhere in the English countryside.
So now that we have the Jane Austen portion of our trip sorted out, next it’s adding Keats, Shakespeare, etc.
How about you? Have you done any traveling which encompassed visiting places of literary greats? If so, what was your favorite? If not, where would you like to go? Feel free to post a picture of your excursion.
Happy Traveling!
Christine Maria Jahn
The Jasmine Quill 
I have always dreamed of visting England, Italy, Egypt and Greece. I would to love to visit since I studied history of furniture and design in college not necessarily to travel for literary purposes.
My love for reading, mostly Regency and Victorian era, came out only a few years ago so now I have an even greater desire to visit England.
Hi Janella,
Italy is definitely on my list, especially Piazza di Spagna (the Spanish Steps) in Rome. Obviously, I want to go to tour this fabulous and beautiful city, but also because at the bottom of the Spanish Steps is a little museum made from John Keats’ last place of residence when he died at the age of twenty-five. He was such a wonderful poet from the Romantic Period.
As for reading Regencies, try “A Rose in Winter” by the late Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I believe her books can still be found. That was my first Regency read when I was a teenager and still my favorite book to this day.
Christine Maria Jahn
That’s funny you mention A Rose in Winter. Just last week I saw this paticular book recommended several times on a some amazon reviews I was reading.
Thanks for the new author, I will try her out.