Unsuitable for Ladies: An Anthology of Women Travellers

In this spunky companion volume to Wayward Women (her book about women travel writers through history), Robinson collects the global travels of women like Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Karen Blixen, Freya Stark and Jan Morris. Grouped by geography with numerous entries for each place which serve as a conversation between the region, the time and the characters themselves, the chapters are bookended by thoughtful selections in "Setting Out" and "Coming Home", indicating that the act of travel is and has always been a transformative force in women's lives. Sometimes reputation risking and life threatening, but often culturally redeeming and personally empowering, travel must be intellectually prepared for, and assimilated.

Jane Robinson is a genius - although many readers of this anthology might not realise it at first. She is clearly someone who loves her work, and her collection of travel books by women writers - she has, in "Unsuitable for Ladies" cut through much of the long travelogue and found pertinent, thought provoking and often laugh out loud quotes. And they are so interesting....and so relevant....and and...so darn interesting!So many of the books she uses are either no longer in publication, or difficult to get - or ones you just would plain never have heard of.If you are planning a big overseas trip somewhere - or know someone who is - give them this book as a present. Especially for women - it is just wonderful - putting in perspective 600 years of women's journey's around the world.I'd also highly recommend her wonderful book "Wayward Women" which is a sort of mix between anthology of women's travelling books and potted bios of each traveller.

What a wonderful find! The real-life adventures of women travelers spanning the past 300 years. Brave, joyful women who carried the same adventurous spirits in their souls as I do when I travel (real or armchair). Soul-mates found across the generations! I have always enjoyed reading letters and diaries of women but this is an extra special collection. I look forward to reading Jane Robinson's next work.