Who doesn’t love a great read on holidays?! Fiction extends the character of a place and introduces another way to experience it. Even better when it adds another layer to a travel adventure.
Here’s a small selection of books set in the locations TravelSampler.world has visited. Just as we have visited all the destinations you will find on TravelSampler.world (unless we tell you it’s a traveller contribution), we’ve also read all these books.
Images on this page come from our Kindle library. Where available and relevant, quotes come from either the publisher’s page for each of the books, or else another named source. You will see these are not necessarily recommendations (although many are great reads), just a sample of the wide range (of mostly fiction) books available, wherever you travel.
What have you read that’s connected you to a place and time? Do you have a book recommendation?
Let us know at ideas@travelsampler.world
Set in Brisbane in 1985 this multi award-winning book has become a Netflix television series and a stage play. Many quintessentially Australian references throughout. Published by HarperCollins
…’Brisbane, 1985: A lost father, a mute brother, a junkie mum, a heroin dealer for a stepfather and a notorious crim for a babysitter. It’s not as if Eli Bell’s life isn’t complicated enough already. He’s just trying to follow his heart and understand what it means to be a good man, but fate keeps throwing obstacles in his way…’
Bushrangers are part of Australian folklore. This book looks at the Kelly family, and the wild days of the Kelly gang. Mrs Kelly raised a troublesome brood in difficult circumstances. Interesting historical background on Australia’s colonial past and gold rush days. Published by HarperCollins
…’Mrs Kelly is the astonishing story of one of Australia’s most notorious women and her wild family, but it’s also the story of the making of Australia, from struggling colony and backwater to modern nation…’
Still not sure what to think of this award-winning novel. A challenging novel on many levels. Have you read it? What did you think? Is there something else you’ve read, set in Canada, that you loved? Published by HarperCollins.
…”First, I’ll tell about the robbery our parents committed. Then the murders, which happened later.” So begins Canada, the unforgettable story of a boy attempting to find grace, written by the only writer in history to win both the Pulitzer Prize and Pen/Faulkner Award for a single novel…’
Nowhere else does ‘pomp and ceremony’ like England! And it’s long projected the power and prestige of the royal family. Australian author Julia Baird explores the reign of Queen Victoria and gives regal context to a visit to England. Published by Random House.
…’Victoria was an ordinary woman thrust into an extraordinary role. As a girl, she defied her mother’s meddling and an adviser’s bullying, forging an iron will of her own. As a teenage queen, she eagerly grasped the crown and relished the freedom it brought her’…
Breathtaking saga and Man Booker winner. Henry VIII at his most challenging, debauched and scheming! Part of a trilogy, this is a staggering take on historical royalty and what it took to ascend to and hold onto power. Fictional colour for many English locations and events that will be familiar to travellers. Published by Macmillan.
…’England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe opposes him. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell: a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people, and implacable in his ambition’…
While not specific to Greece, we were prompted to read this book by travels to Greece and the eastern mediterranean. Light history and tales of seafarers, pirates, travellers and ancient empires that encompass Greece and not too distant lands and seas. Published by Captivating History.
…’Who were they? Where did they come from? Did they do more than simply pillage, and what impact did they have on society and commerce?…’
With a title and cover shot like that you will have guessed this is a romantic, fictional tale. If you are looking for a fantasy, escapist, read and are prepared to suspend literary expectations on a long flight, this may provide some light relief. Ancient Greek Gods and their epic lives. Author’s website here.
Being sailors ourselves, we love a seafaring tale so we enjoyed this book. Although not so sure we’d repeat the journey, being more accustomed to warmer climates. There are some photos and video from this journey set to lilting Irish music on YouTube. A little difficult to unearth this first-time author’s publisher (perhaps self-published?) but you can find it and a longer blurb on Goodreads.
‘…their planned ten-week journey turned into a five-month odyssey, undertaken over two summers.
Throughout the voyage, Richard kept a detailed diary which became the basis for this book. However, this is much more than simply an account of a sailing voyage. Interesting, funny and informative, you don’t need to be a sailor to be charmed, intrigued and touched by this unfolding tale…’
If you are ‘of a certain age’ then you will remember The Troubles. Sectarian violence tore Ireland apart and set friend against friend, neighbour against neighbour. A tragic and bloody time for everyone living with the violence on a daily basis. This book provides a history, easily told and memorable. Definitely worth reading if you are heading to Ireland. Published by William Collins and available on Amazon.
‘Say Nothing deftly weaves the stories of Jean McConville and her family with those of Dolours Price, the first woman to join the IRA as a front-line soldier, who bombed the Old Bailey when barely out of her teens; Gerry Adams, who helped bring an end to the fighting, but denied his own IRA past; Brendan Hughes, a fearsome IRA commander who turned on Adams after the peace process and broke the IRA’s code of silence; and other indelible figures. By capturing the intrigue, the drama and the profound human cost of the Troubles, the book presents a searing chronicle of the lengths that people are willing to go to in pursuit of a political ideal, and the ways in which societies mend – or don’t – in the aftermath of a long and bloody conflict’.
This compact edition is full of information – so much so that we admit we’ve not read the whole book. It’s a wonderful reference and has lots and lots of information and photos, and a map. Look up whatever you are looking at, including interiors and paintings. Published by Ullman and possibly a bit hard to find as the copy we have is a 2009 edition we found at the V&A in London, although Amazon has it listed here.
‘…Designed to provide a detailed exploration into the exceptional array of art and architecture in Venice, this captivating volume will surely enthral anyone interested in the city’s buildings, paintings, sculptures and history…Over 600 full-colour illustrations including detailed town plans help bring this artistic city to life at the turn of a page…’
Although this is a children’s guide to Venice, we wished we’d found it sooner when we travelled to Venice. It’s also pitched at ‘the young-at-heart’, and in keeping with travelsampler.world’s approach includes bite sized samples of history, architecture, traditions, nature and more with happy illustrations and graphics. Published by Elzeviro, however may be out of print as our copy is a 2009 edition. Available on Amazon.
‘…Beautiful and thoroughly useful (children’s) guide to Venice…there is an illustrated guide to the types of boats found in Venice from public transportation to gondolas to fishing boats and more. There are itineraries for sunny and rainy days. A guide to the islands in the lagoon, a list of places to play, legends, useful words…’
One of James Clavell’s historical novels set in Asia. Immerse yourself in ancient Japanese tradition and culture, samurai and warriors fighting for supremacy at a time when east first met west. And of course, a love interest – complicated by the clash of cultures. See also Gia-Jin. Author’s website here.
From the author’s website:…’Heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action meld seamlessly with intricate historical detail and raw human emotion…’
‘…Richly told and profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. From bustling street markets to the halls of Japan’s finest universities to the pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee’s complex and passionate characters–strong, stubborn women, devoted sisters and sons, fathers shaken by moral crisis–survive and thrive against the indifferent arc of history…’
While not specifically about Jordan, we were inspired to read this book by the awe-inspiring building project that is Petra. How did builders in ancient times, using rudimentary tools achieve such staggering perfection? Partial answers to that question in this easy-to-digest and fascinating book. Published by Penguin.
‘…In The Secret Lives of Numbers, historian Kate Kitagawa and journalist Timothy Revell introduce readers to the mathematical boundary-smashers who have been erased by history because of their race, gender or nationality…This revisionist, completely accessible and radically inclusive history of mathematics is as entertaining as it is important…’
The last days of the Vietnam war, and the last days of a King. Set in the jungles of Laos and sometimes confronting while a fascinating look into a changing society. Possibly no longer available in hardback. Published by Allen and Unwin and still available on Kindle through Amazon
‘…In the dying days of the Vietnam War, a royal family is rounded up and flown by helicopter to a remote prison camp. Behind the bamboo curtain erected by victorious communist guerillas, the tragic final days of an Asian king and his dynasty will play out. …’
‘In a California courtroom, seventeen-year-old Nou Lee reels with what she is about to do. What she must do to survive. She reflects on the splintered path that led to this moment, beginning twelve years ago in 1978, when her Hmong family escaped from Laos after the Communist takeover….’
This one appealed given its genre, ‘Plane Reader’, promoted as ‘stories about Moroccan people, places and eats’. It’s a collection of various authors’ experience. Easy to dip into and out of. Maybe a little out of date now, as it was a 2013 edition. Here on Amazon.
‘…learn about the health and safety of such a mysterious place, transport salt on the back of camels, and discover Morocco’s different languages. Why not travel to this exotic country and climb the dunes of Erg Chebbi, take a ferry ride to Spain, visit ancient tribal lands, learn proper etiquette, eat interesting foods, visit the markets, see a Tinman, the Dye pots in Féz and explore the great architecture of Marrakech….’
A short synopsis of this story set in Morocco, below from our Kindle library. While this book appears to no longer be available, it did provide diverting reading on a long plane flight from the southern hemisphere. Romance, tragedy and culture clash in an exotic location. At least it was set in a Medina.
‘…Sisters Juliet and Portia haven’t seen each other in years. When they’re invited by their estranged mother, Miranda, to visit Fez, they’re shocked on arrival to discover she has married Samir, a man half her age. What’s more, he’s already married to Zina…..’
This book explores the Franco years in Spain, and the profound impact that still reverberates, occasionally breaking through the surface of Spain today. Interesting read giving historical context to the nation. Published by Bloomsbury.
‘In elegant and passionate prose, Tremlett unveils the tinderbox of disagreements that mark the country today. Ghosts of Spain is a revelatory book about one of Europe’s most exciting countries.’
‘An invaluable book . . . A country finally facing its past could scarcely hope for a better, or more enamored, chronicler of its present.”-Sarah Wildman, New York Times Book Review…’
We read this book seeking to fill in some facts, in the gaps of our knowledge to this most famous Spanish high-seas venture. Originally published by Thomas Dunne Books was an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, which is a division of Macmillan Publishers.
‘…Popular history dictates that the defeat of the Spanish Armada was a David versus Goliath victory, snatched by plucky and outnumbered English forces…Robert Hutchinson explodes this myth, revealing the true destroyers of the Spanish Armada—inclement weather and bad luck. Of the 125 Spanish ships that set sail against England, only 60 limped home, the rest wrecked or sank with barely a shot fired from their main armament…’
In the aftermath of Covid, this book examines the impact on global economies and security, driven by the supply of technology especially computer chips. USA’s Silicon Valley juxtaposed against evolving global supply chains and points of vulnerability. Very interesting read. Published by Simon and Schuster.
‘…In Chip War economic historian Chris Miller recounts the fascinating sequence of events that led to the United States perfecting chip design, and how faster chips helped defeat the Soviet Union …. The battle to control this industry will shape our future. China spends more money importing chips than buying oil, and they are China’s greatest external vulnerability as they are fundamentally reliant on foreign chips…’
Pure fiction set against a backdrop of Hollywood. Another award winning book, and a good plane read before slipping into the USA and the fantastical world of movies. Published by Atria Books, part of Simon and Schuster.
‘…Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?…’
Seen the movie? Now read the full story. A celebration of the role ground breaking women played in America’s space race. The New York Times Best Seller fills out the story and highlights the contradictions these women faced – talented, capable and ambitious, held back by their colour. Published by Harper Collins.
‘…Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. Among these problem-solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation…’
Ahn Do is a talented man – comedian, author, artist. This book tells the story of his family fleeing Vietnam for a new life in Australia. Some very funny moments alongside difficult struggles to find their way in a new country. Published by Allen and Unwin
‘…The Happiest Refugee tells the incredible, uplifting and inspiring life story of one of our favourite personalities. Tragedy, humour, heartache and unswerving determination – a big life with big dreams. Anh’s story will move and amuse all who read it.’
