Literary Places

A lovely book that can be read as a travel guide to literary place as well as the description of places where some of the most well known literary works are set.
I loved the style of writing and the lovely illustrations.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Beautiful illustrations and succinct yet still description-packed sections make this both a great resource for well-read travelers and also an informative resource for those who simply want to know the settings of some of their favorite works a little bit better.

This is such a fun read for the bookish traveler! Great illustrations and info on locations from iconic literature. I appreciated the variety of places spotlighted and am excited to use this in planning more unique future travels across the globe.

This was a nice surprise.
It's a collection of beautiful and breathtaking places.
Seemed like a postcard collection.

This book covers a wide variety of locations - domestic and abroad. I think the book would make you interested in reading one of the classics mentioned or in visiting one of the locations!

Inspired Traveller's Guides: Literary Places by Sara Baxter

published by Quarto is the book for you, if you search for an original approach with the most stunning places of literature seen and lived with the eyes of the authors taken in examination.

Readers will visit thanks to full-page color illustrations Central Park seen through the eyes of J.D. Salinger or the places of Don Quixote's La Mancha, the wild Yorkshire where Cathy and Heathcliff lived their tormented love, or Victor Hugo's Paris without forgetting Florence described in A Room with a View by EM Forster but also the town that inspired the touching book by Harper Lee: To Kill a Mocking Bird.
I love John Steinbeck and for all the estimators, I can tell you that there is also his presence, like also the one of Mark Twain, with a location of Huckleberry Finn for complexively twenty-five wonderful, romantic, wild locations that, during these centuries or decades have meant for readers their literary life.
It's a book this one that wants to let you fall in love again and again for these literary places, representing, speaking,communicating, giving voice again at masterpieces of literature beloved by million of readers.

It's a book I would suggest, for originality also to your children. Sometimes a different approach, more original, in particular when children don't want to read, can be helpful and can stimulate them.

Everything start from curiosity. Trravels are a powerful suggestion :-) for searching for a book.

Highly recommended.

I thank NetGalley and Quarto for this ebook.

Anna Maria Polidori

This lovely little book combines charming watercolors with narratives about the places that star in some of the world’s greatest literature. From Dickens to Salinger and Bronte, this is a book that will please readers and travelers alike

A beautifully illustrated book exploring the places that inspired great pieces of literature. Twenty five different books are explored with regard to their setting, places from around the world, from Paris, Les Miserables to Chile, The House of the Spirits. Some of these books I have read and visited their setting. Others I am unfamiliar with but I have been inspired to read in the near future. It would have been lovely to see photographs of some of the places mentioned in addition to the stunning artwork. Thank you to Net Galley and White Lion Publishing,Quarto Group for an ARC.

Wow! What a fantastic book this is. Quite often when I read books I end up going onto Google maps to see the actual places - this book is a literary version of that and more. The paintings in the book alone are just worth buying this book in my opinion, they are just gorgeous.

Divided into chapters for each book with a painting setting the scene. Some of the books I have not read and now I want to read them. I often find that if a book is mentioned in a book I am reading I have to check it out, and often end up reading it. So imagine, this book contains so many lovely books that I now want to read based on the background this book supplies. Also the reverse now applies - places I want to visit! A couple of my favourite authors are also included in this book, Gabriel García Márquez and Isabelle Allende and it was good to find out more about those books.

Well written in an interesting and informed style - just the right amount of text to get the feel of the book, the place it's set and not feel either cheated it's too brief or too long you get bored.

A book to dip into again and again to read and just to admire those lovely paintings too.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing. The book is out on 5 March 2019.

Well I’ve got to say, I was intrigued by this book, and for some reason I thought I was a lot more well read than I obviously am. Out of the 25 books covered in this literary travel guide, I have only actually read 5 of the books and watched a further 3 on the big screen, not quite as literate as I presumed I was. Some I hadn’t even heard of, but do you know what? I’m going to be downloading some of these literary masterpieces very shortly. Interesting facts about the authors and their stories, beautiful illustrations, although I know some may disagree, I would have loved to have seen actual photographs alongside some of the illustrations. What can I say, I’m a visual person, and8 must say, I adored the illustrated maps. So many backstories, so many countries to visit, so many stories to read. Interesting, factual and informative. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

A lovely book lovers of literature grab this book.A guide to locations where some of our favorite books are placed.Beautiful illustrations in depth descriptions a book to travel to all these iconic places right from my armchair. would make the perfect gift for lovers of literature or book club discussions, # netgalley #quartoboojs

Why do you read book? To enjoy yourself, be entertained by a good story and – at least for me – to travel via the novel to another place and learn something about culture, habits and life in general there. Due to lack of time and money, I cannot visit all the places I would like to see with my own eyes, thus, the fictional world set in real places is often the only alternative available. Especially when it comes to time travel which, of course, will just remain a dream.

Sarah Baxter’s traveller’s guide leads you to 25 famous places of novels, among them Paris, London, St Petersburg, New York and Berlin. She briefly describes the setting of the novel and then compares the presentation as we get it in the book with what to find there today. Some places are almost identical and what you see through the eyes of the protagonist is what you can see yourself when travelling there. Others have changed a lot and the place now only exists between the covers of the book.

The text is accompanied by illustrations by Amy Grimes and even though they are mostly abstract, they wonderfully transport the atmosphere evoked in the novels. When reading make sure you either got a hard copy of the book or an electronic version in colour. I’d be a pity to have them just in black and white.

A beautiful collection which reminded me of novels I read a long time ago and which I definitely want to look at again now.

I enjoyed this book. Having read most of the books described in the book and visited many of the places described, this book brought back many happy memories. The illustrations are the star of the book.

This is a lovely book to get lost in and dream of places that inspired many great literary works. I loved the illustrations there was something about the style of art that is so appealing. It helps keep the imagination alive as like the books it is someone's interpretation, someone's work. It is nice to remember books read a long time ago and to get the urge to travel, to read, to feel and see all those places that have been so alive in the imagination. A lovely book, would just have liked lots more books and places. Thank you

Literary Places is a travel guide with a booklover's twist, highlighting some key literary destinations around the world. I enjoyed the different chapters, with their pretty illustrations and overview of each book's key locations. In some cases you can follow a precise tour through scenes from the novel. In others, there are suggestions based on scholarly belief as to which buildings and places were the author's source of inspiration. And this book is about inspiration rather than planning. If you want to know the logistics of getting to some of these locales, you'll need to do separate research, as there is nothing like that included. I might have enjoyed having some of that kind of information presented, perhaps as an appendix rather than in the main text, but as it is, this book is still a delightful read. I was familiar with a good three quarters of the novels mentioned, and of the remainder, I ended up adding a couple to my reading wishlist. I recommend this book for literary fans who also love to travel.

What a wonderful combination — literature, travel and beautiful illustrations! A fun read. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy of this book to review.

I enjoyed Literary Places Sarah Baxter =delves not just into the physical places but the political and social climate as well. Where appropriate, she details what has changed between the time of the novels and current day. Reading this book, is like the novels and is a trip around the world.
The book does have one major flaw: it contain illustrations instead of actual pictures While illustrations can work on getting some of the hues and recall back to older times, modern pictures would have been very helpful in really understanding these places.. Had this book had photos, I would have bought this book for a few of my literary friends.

In the Venn diagram of those with wanderlust in one section, and another section of readers who enjoy books where Place is a strong element, readers who find themselves in the overlap will enjoy Literary Places by Sarah Baxter.

A visually beautiful book, illustrator Amy Grimes uses bold colors to depict locations described within 25 books (well, 26: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are combined in one chapter about Bath). Author Sarah Baxter devotes a few pages to each place.

I'm a fan of illustrator Amy Grimes' aesthetic. The colors are bold, lines crisp. Let your gaze linger a bit and see some of the subtler details she includes. Notice how she uses light in her artwork. I don't actually know anything about art, but I know what I like, and I like what I'm seeing.

The titles represented in this book cover a range of dates and places. Locations include the inhabited continents, with the bulk of titles in Europe. The earliest I've spotted is Don Quixote in 1615 in Spain, to 2011 and My Brilliant Friend, set in Naples. This particular depiction also graces the cover.

Each chapter can stand alone. For that reason, I'd suggest you start with a chapter on a book you've already read. This will help you get a feel of what Literary Places can offer.

Baxter writes about the setting and places the book in historical context for the book and author. For the chapter on To Kill a Mockingbird, Baxter's use of imagery sets the scene, then she reminds us of events during the Civil Rights movement around the time the book was published. We have a brief plot summary (I don't think there are spoilers within, though I know some readers prefer to jump into a book knowing nothing at all about plot, so bear that in mind). We also have a description of Harper Lee's hometown, where she drew inspiration for the book. If you want to visit a site in person, Baxter suggests a few highlights for a tour.

My summary doesn't do it justice; read a sample chapter.

I'm planning on using Literary Places to enhance my appreciation for books I've already read, and to add to my TBR stack.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a digital review copy. I preordered this in hardcover.

This is a book for book lovers who like to travel! It's such a nice read and really necessary :)
I loved it. It highlights the literary places iconic books take place with illustrations. And I must say illustrations are fantastic.

I definitely made my list, don't miss this book!

I enjoyed Literary Places, by Sarah Baxter, and I recommend it to other "armchair travelers." The book takes us to 25 places around the world that have inspired great authors like Victor Hugo, who wrote of the Paris sewers in Les Miserables. I loved the way the author described these locations--she made me want to visit them and read the books that were inspired by them.

Thanks to the publisher for an e-copy, exchanged for my honest opinion, I recommend this very interesting and enjoyable read!

"Inspired Traveller’s Guides: Literary Places takes you on an enlightening journey through the key locations of literature’s best and brightest authors, movements, and moments - brought to life through comprehensively researched text and stunning hand-drawn artwork.

Travel journalist Sarah Baxter provides comprehensive and atmospheric outlines of the history and culture of 25 literary places around the globe, as well as how they intersect with the lives of the authors and the works that make them significant. Full-page color illustrations instantly transport you to each location. You’ll find that these places are not just backdrops to the tales told, but characters in their own right.

Travel to the sun-scorched plains of Don Quixote’s La Mancha, roam the wild Yorkshire moors with Cathy and Heathcliff, or view Central Park through the eyes of J.D. Salinger’s antihero. Explore the lush and languid backwaters of Arundhati Roy’s Kerala, the imposing precipice of Joan Lindsay’s Hanging Rock, and the labyrinthine streets and sewers of Victor Hugo’s Paris.

Delve into this book to discover some of the world’s most fascinating literary places and the novels that celebrate them."

I love walking in the footsteps of favorite books and authors, whether in actuality or from the comfort of my armchair delighting in Amy Grimes's artwork.

Beautiful illustrations in this book. A book about books and a travel guide for bibliophiles. Makes you want to travel to the places described within. I am hoping Sarah will write more books like this one.

Unfortunately, I was not able to download and access this book, which is a shame because it’s one I know I would have enjoyed reading. Four stars because my technical difficulties shouldn’t adversely affect the book’s star average. Should this book become available in the Kindle format, I would love to try again.

Literary Places is an absolutely striking collection of locations that are mentioned in literary works. They’re all real locations, of course. This novel includes beautiful hand drawn images of some of the most iconic locations, as well as a brief bit of information about each one.
Personally, I really felt like it brought these locations that I’ve never had the luxury of visiting to life. It reminded me of just how many classic novels are based in real locations – locations I could visit, should I ever get the opportunity to do so.
I sincerely hope that Sarah Baxter and Amy Grimes were given the opportunity to travel to most of these locations while working on their book. I imagine that would have been a dream come true.
This novel covers literary locations such as Paris, Dublin, Florence, Naples, Berlin, Nordland, St. Petersburg, Sierre de Guardarrama, La Mancha, Davos, Bath, London, Yorkshire, Cairo, Soweto, Kerala, Saigon, Kabul, Hanging Rock, New York, Monterey, Mississippi River, Monroeville, Cartagena, and Chile. Best of all? It even cites some of the novels that used each location as a basis. For somebody that can be a bit forgetful at times, that little detail was greatly appreciated.
The artwork for Literary Places was absolutely stunning. It had just a touch of whimsy, but otherwise was bright and clear. The style was perfect for what they were trying to portray here. To be honest, I really hope they come out with more works like this. It’d be interesting to see what they’d cover next. Plus I’d love to see more artwork in this style and theme.

I would like to thank netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Highly enjoyable, this book takes you through the real life places that have inspired so many great authors, from Jane Austens' Bath tho Charles Dickins' London. I really like that it gives you real places to go to that were either featured in the novel or visited by the author, it would be handy to carry on journeys. The illustrations are stunning.

A stunning book that is a must for any young children with a passion for geography. It's well presented with complimentary information for each place.

This was such a fascinating read! Baxter managed to pair real world places with fictional ones to create an interesting analysis of literature. The variety of places she talked about was good as it meant that it wasn't eurocentric. The detail she goes into is good as it means that as a reader it builds a picture of the setting behind these famous books.

This is a fun book that takes a look at 25 cities around the world through the lens of fiction. For example, London as seen in Oliver Twist, New York City in The Cather in the Rye, Paris in Les Miserables. Each city is also represented with illustrations. I appreciated that the literature covered was from classic to modern, and the locations highlighted were worldwide. This would be a fun coffee-table book and conversation piece.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of "Literary Places" via Net Galley.

Another book about books - or better: a book about the places that are described in some of the most important classics of all times - which stole my heart. I loved to read and remember the plots that were running in the streets that the author describes. Only disappointment was the total absence of Rome, in a book where Florence and Neapels are described....

Un altro libro sui libri - o meglio: un libro su alcuni dei posti raccontati dai classici più famosi - che mi ha preso il cuore. È stato molto bello leggere le parole dell'autrice e contemporaneamente ricordare le trame che si svolgevano in quei vicoli e piazze. Peccato peró, che in un volume che cita Firenze e Napoli, Roma sia vistosamente assente.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

This is such a beautiful book full of ideas for those who love the combination of travel and reading. What better way to learn about a new place than through the eyes of an author?! Would highly recommend and can’t wait to add some of these places to my bucket list!

This is a wonderful book for armchair readers and explorers. 25 fictional places are featured and paired with the novels that made them well known. Some of my favorites were New York City/Catcher in the Rye; Yorkshire Moors/Wuthering Heights, Bath/Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, Naples/My Brilliant Friend, Alabama/To Kill a Mockingbird and really just about every place and book mentioned. The author and illustrator are well matched; the text is informative and helps the reader to imagine the place described at the time that the book was written as well as now, while the drawings are just slightly whimsical and very appealing.

This book will inspire you to look at old favorites, find new ones and think about either real or virtual travel. I recommend it highly.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-galley. I enjoyed my journey!

This is a really good guide and insight to literary places. The writing is smooth and draws you into each adventure. There was a great ease with this book – chapters clearly headed by country and then book, then each page illustrated by stunning images from the landscapes featured.

There’s lots of literary knowledge but there’s also a nice bit of background and history woven in to make this a more encompassing experience. A perfect book to keep and dip in and out of whenever it takes your fancy. Which it will. A lot. Right now, I’m off to Florence. See you later!

I interviewed the author on TheBookTrail and it was a joy to chat to her!

This nice small book is written by travel writer Sarah baxter.

This covers 25 great books and real or hypothetical places in which they take place or are written.
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All books are masterpieces by great authors and many are nobel prize winners.
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There are wonderful illustrations by Amy Grimes which are soulful and soothing to eyes.
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There are lots of interesting stories when you flip through pages of the book and majority of main authors from different continents are covered except from china and Japan.
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Author's life, cultural and political backdrop at the time of writing of books and impact these books had on society are explained in interesting prose.
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Old structures mentioned in the novels and their present remains or possible matching places are mentioned.
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Good book to know great authors and great places and you will definitely find few great books for you to read next.
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. Illustrations are just awesome.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review copy.

What a beautiful book.... Reads like a travel journal to me. It inspires readers not only to go travelling and researching lands of the world but make their own traveling journals as well.

I absolutely enjoyed this book, it contains 25 great literary destinations around the world featured in some of the best novels.
Being a travels' lover, an avid book reader with a passion for illustrations, I believe this book is the perfect combination:a bit of a travel guide,beautiful illustrations intertwined with the lives of the authors and perfect tips to (re)discover books.My favorite cities in the book were Bath,Cairo, London and Naples.
'The Literary Places' is a beautiful concept, a great way to immerse yourself in the lives of authors such Elena Ferrante,Victor Hugo, Henry James and more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Qualcuno disse che i libri sono il modo più rapido ed economico per viaggiare, e lo dimostra bene questa agenzia di viaggio letteraria: da Parigi a New Yorn, dalle pianure de La Mancha all'assolata Firenze, passando per Cartagena, Kabul, il Cile, Hanging Rock.

Venticinque romanzi, venticinque  luoghi, venticinque viaggi speciali che cambiano la maniera in cui si immagina il racconto e insieme il modo in cui si guarda la città (o il Paese) che si visita.

Testi brevi, brillanti, divertenti; classici affiancati a romanzi moderni, di qualità e successo; illustrazioni colorate e suggestive: gli ingredienti per una guida di viaggio perfetta.

What a fun idea for a book! I love books and I love travel so a book full of literary places is the perfect combo. Beautifully written with very pretty illustrations accompanying each entry. I enjoyed visiting so many literary places and have added a few books to my TBR list.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such a pleasant surprise!
Although I have to say that I was pretty disappointed when I didn't find Pride and Prejudice, my favorite, on the table of contents, the contents included were actually really nice. All the gorgeous illustrations and writing made this book a true handbook for all literary lovers. Reading about all the places made me want to find all the novels included and read them all over again, this time with more imagination.
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Overall : 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Appealing: 5/5

4 1/2 stars

My issue with reading Literary Places by Sarah Baxter with captivating illustrations by Amy Grimes via my electronic reader is that I feel like I’ve missed out a bit on something magical that an e-reader can only minimally convey. First off, Amy Grimes’ illustrations fascinate me. At first glance, they look minimalistic, but there’s something about them, some magical quality that makes me want to continue looking at them.

These illustrations offer a viewpoint of Sarah Baxter’s frequently poetic descriptions of novel settings.

“The Crescent’s honeyed stone glows in the afternoon sunlight, a radiant architectural swoosh between the neat green lawn and cloudless blue sky. A long procession of Ionic columns and sash windows sweeps away in perfect symmetry, while the footsteps of the slowly strolling curious–faces up-turned, mouths agape–slap on worn-smooth slabs.”

Bath, the setting for Northanger Abbey and Persuasion

The “places” referred to in the title range from the Paris of Les Miserables to Chile from The House of Spirits with stops in Kabul (The Kite Runner) and the Mississippi River (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn).

(Illustration) DUBLIN
The Dublin of Ulysses as illustrated by Amy Grimes

You can view more illustrations on the Amazon page for Literary Places.

Literary Places is not the kind of book that you would want to read in one sitting. I would read one or two entries, savor them, imagine the places as they once were as they are now, before moving on.

The passages also lend themselves extremely well to giving a taste of novels that haven’t been read yet, which I found, in my case, to be far too many than I would have liked. However, if you’ve read the novel, the present-day descriptions of the settings may just result in your wanting to enjoy them yourself in person.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and the Quarto Group in exchange for an honest review.

A book lovers travel guide - a wonderfully illustrated journey around some of the key literary destinations of all time.

This book isn't a typical travel guide i.e. doesn't give you the basics of how to get to these destinations but they will inspire your own future planning! If you have a love of travel and a love of books this is definitely the book for you. - being guided to Paris, New York and Berlin amongst others.

I think I was expecting something more substantial but it didn't change my enjoyment of it at all. If you are wanting to enjoy the adventure of far flung places but cannot do it for whatever reason this book will provide a wonderful arm-chair adventure and whisk you away.

Not only did this book give me inspiration for new places to travel but also for books I have yet to read.

I'd definitely recommend.

This book is almost like a literary guided meditation. It allows you to visualise the places where the listed books were either set or created. The illustrations are lovely and the entries are relatively bite-sized, but concise.

What I liked the most about this book is that there were a number of books listed that I haven't yet had the chance to read and it offered me a little more information about them, so I was able to decide if I should add them to my TBR pile or not. Although the descriptions were short, they were good and they highlighted the important points in each book.

I really enjoyed this, and think anyone who loves books will as well. There is a nice mix of classic and newer books included, so there's something for everything.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is well written and the artwork is beautiful. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. I liked how it described a lot of different places in books. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Never was a title more apt, as in just a heading, it sums the book up better than any review.

Taking some iconic and other less visited destinations, Sarah Baxter has brought places alive where various books and novels have been set or an author has been influence by such a location.
Charles Dicken's London as described in Oliver Twist, Soweto through the eyes of Nadine Gordimer and Bath where Jane Austen is still remembered and most consider Northanger Abbey and Persuasion as true examples of English Literature.
I enjoyred reading about Paris, Kabul and Cairo, indeed each essay holds some interest for me regardless of the work and author it relates to and despite being a place I'd never considered a travel destination.
Sarah Baxter has a distinct style to make each setting come alive, your senses are stimulated and the artwork of Amy Grimes compliments this wonderfully where photographs would perhaps reflect a different mood. Sarah uses every creative skill to pen a brief discription of the place, including: cliché, alliteration and onomatopoeia. This creates a sence of being there. She also links this with a knowledge of the original location and it's connection to the author of the book that relates to it. Therefore in many cases she enables one to follow in the footsteps of writers with care to connect fiction with streets and buildings.
I absolutely absorbed each chapter and in nearly every case either made me want to pick up the original novel or dream of visiting these special settings for myself.
Overall, it has given me renewed memories of cities I have visited and rekindled an affinity to some treasured books and authors. Any book that both makes you want to visit the places your imagination has taken you and gives you a desire to read more is a sure winner for me.

Literary Places: Inspired Traveller’s Guide by Sarah Baxter, illustrated by Amy Grimes


White Lion Publishing
Nonfiction, travel
March 5, 2019
Rating: 5/5

I received this digital ARC from NetGalley and White Lion Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

A great story allows the reader to travel in time to places that only exist in our imagination. This book focuses on 25 great literary places around the world. Each chapter uniquely illustrated provides a reflection hoping to transport you to those places which we can only visit via the pages of these literary treasures. The author explores the location in regards to history and the author’s vision at that time.

Imagine being in Paris 1800’s during the Enlightenment amidst the squalor and revolution which existed in Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. An interesting history of Paris during this era provides a historical perspective of the travails of Jean Valjean. From there you can time travel to Dublin where James Joyce describes the humdrum events in a typical Irish day in Ulysses. Imagine being Léopold Bloom exploring the streets of Dublin on 16 June 1904.

Similarly, A Room with a View by E.M. Forster allows us to see Florence during the resplendent Italian Renaissance. Fast forward to Naples 1950’s as two young girls come of age in My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. You can also imagine Berlin Alexanderplatz in the late 1920’s during a period of hardship and political unrest. Perhaps a trip to a timeless place of simplicity and awe! We might find ourselves in Nordland as described by Knut Hamsun in Growth of the Soil.

Of course, a literary jaunt would not be complete without a stop in St. Petersburg, an imperial Russian city described in Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. These are only a sampling of the journey you will take in this book. A lovely guide for those who enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

It’s a short book with description of famous places in literature. Great for someone who absolutely loves reading about certain books. I’ve only read a few of the books that are mentioned in this book.

Covers Les Mis, Ulysses, A Room with a View, Crime and Punishment, Wuthering Heights, The Kite Runner, To Kill a Mockingbird — and more!

A great guide for someone who is familiar with most of the literary locations. I am only familiar with a handful.

This book is about the setting of great literary works, not only in geography, but in history as well. I have been to almost all the places in the book, and the descriptions are very accurate.
Not among the larger books, this one is packed with well written descriptions and outstanding illustrations, making it a "must have" for booklovers.

"Truly great writers recreate not only locations but also eras and histories."


If you have a literary bent and are contemplating travel this is a fascinating book. Even if your not venturing to far flung place, this gem of a book will allow loads of armchair traveling.
Twenty-five locations were chosen from St Petersburg in Russia to Saigon in Vietnam and places both north and south of the equator and around the globe encompassing longitudes from England to Chile.
I grappled with artist's impressions for the first couple of chapters. I am used to, and was expecting photographs, ideally artistically shot. You know a bridge or archway looming through the bull rushes taken from a prone position etc. etc.
But here we have artistic impressions by Amy Grimes, superbly rendered, colorful, and often showing a 'naive' primitivism influence, with occasional magic realism touches. These art works, capturing the essence of places as we're guided through select novel pathways, are beautiful additions.
So this was unexpected! I was envisaging maps and photos to support Baxter's inclusions and find this literary discussion of the place, time and background of a selected novel, supported by Grimes' delicately nuanced works, rewarding. I found myself enjoying this different approach. And I remembered the small book and pencils I used to carry with me to do sketches with. Nowhere near as creative as Grimes' digital collage works and overlays, but I identified with the process. (BTW reading more about Grimes's artistic methods via other access points was interesting.)
In fact I was disappointed there weren't more illustrations. They were the deciding factor for me between a four star or a five star rating.
Fortunately I have read most of the books selected, and more fortunately I have visited many of their locations. So Baxter's book reminded me of not only the associated books, but my own responses to the novels and to their locations. The particular places recalled to me the times and conditions in which the novels were set, be it at the time of the Hemingway and the Spanish Wars, Steinbeck and Cannery Row in Monterey or Austen's Bath.
I would not be taking this book with me on a trip (unless in eBook form) but I would read it before and after I travelled to any of the places mentioned--just for the pleasure it gives. This is a book to be enjoyed in hardcopy, to be held, to have paper pages turning and to be enjoyed at that physical level.
'Picnic at Hanging Rock' by Joan Lindsay set near Mt Macedon, Victoria, Australia was a favorite, as was the 'God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy set in Kerala in Southern India. And yes, I had many more favs but I didn't want to list all twenty-five.
A most pleasing publication!

A White Lion Publishing ARC via NetGalley

The idea behind this book is fantastic, and I thought it was executed pretty well. The illustrations were stunning, and I loved learning more about the history behind some classics works and the cities they are set in. It is evident that the author has a passion for both travel and for books. I plan on buying myself a finished copy because it is such a beautiful book and will make for a great conversation starter. I was so happy and surprised to see that my favourite book, Cannery Row, made an appearance. Anyone who loves and appreciates the settings of the books that they read will appreciate this one. It would also make for a great gift!

Full review on my blog to come!

This was such a great piece! Literary Places is one of those few books that I’ve read as an e-book and would be more than happy to buy as a hardcopy, as well.

Let’s start with the title, though, “Inspired Traveller’s Guide”. I peeked at the worse reviews on Goodreads and realized that the majority of people who rated this book with 3 or less stars did so because they felt mislead by the title. If you’re expecting a lengthy novel which you can use step by step to literally follow the characters of certain novels on their journeys, this is not it.

I, however, had no such expectations. I kind of expected that the book will cover a bunch of locations with brief stories about them and lovely pictures, and even though the book does exactly that, it still impressed me and surpassed my expectations.

Literary Places is a short book which paints luscious landscapes and beautiful, if short, descriptions of literary locations. It takes you through Victor Hugo’s Paris of Les Miserables, the St Petersburg of Crime and Punishment, and Don Quixote‘s La Mancha, as well as some not so popular locations, like the Rock from Picnic at the Hanging Rock, and Kerala from The God of Small Things.

The book offered me a new look into locations which I’ve already visited through reading some, if unfortunately few, of the novels mentioned, but it also inspired me to read many new ones and created an entirely new reading list for me for the upcoming year. It would be a real pleasure to read the books that I hadn’t, now that I’ve read Sarah Baxter’s short guide for them.

The second thing I really liked was the simple, yet attractive way the author makes descriptions. In fact, although the book is very small, it manages to capture the best and most important details, the essence of the literary places:

"THE AFTERNOON is heavy, hazy, lazy; the viscid air, damp as an unwrung sponge, awaits the imminent squeeze of the monsoon. For now, it’s curry-hot, the sun beating indiscriminately on red ants and yellow bullfrogs, whooping coucals and long-legged lily-trotters. It glitters on the corpses of silver fish. It nurtures the mango and jackfruit. Then, finally, the sky cracks."

Or…

"Florence is culturally magnificent, from the priceless art at street level to the tip of the Duomo’s cupola. But there’s also the Florence of the senses, the city that comes alive when you feel its hot sun on your skin. When you loiter over lunch, take a slow passeggiata in the cooling afternoon, watch a pink-orange sunset, sip a glass of good Chianti. When you stop questing for information but think of ‘nothing but the blue sky and the men and the women who live under it’."

I want a plane ticket now!

Lastly, the art of the book is so simple, yet so enticing. It manages to show exactly what the author describes, but to do so while also presenting the location perfectly, so that the reader knows exactly which city we’re talking about, without even having visited them.

I found this to be a beautiful little book that should grace everyone’s coffee table! I’m curious how the author chose the places she writes about and how she limited it to 25, seems like there could be so many more. Each chapter picks a place where a book is set and she describes how the book fits into the setting, plus a little about the author and the story. Each is beautifully illustrated as well. I especially like it where she outlines a path the traveler can follow to see the specific places from the books. Perfect for a bookworm who loves to travel like me!

This is such a lovely, well illustrated little book that would make a great gift for any literary or travel lover in your life. Detailing classics such as Wuthering Heights and Oliver Twist, as well as modern classics like The Kite Runner. I found some fabulous new places to add to my travel bucket list, as well as some new-found books to add to my TBR.

Would have loved if there was just a bit more detail about each book/place to visit and maybe some formatted highlights to make it easier to pick out information, but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Quarto publishing always deliver some interesting reads. This book was no exception. Dip in anywhere and you will find something new about the place books you have enjoyed are set or decide to read (even reread) a novel after discovering the real place it was set. What ever way tou approach this book it’s a little gem.

I think I'm always guilty of browsing through NetGalley during my free time, admiring book covers, analyzing synopses, and looking for a unique read. It only seemed right that I would pick up a book about books.

I think I fell in love with this book from the very get-go. It details places around the world that are featured in literary masterpieces. The book has a wonderful format with colorful and vivid drawings accompanied by writing.

The writing is absolutely stunning. What the pictures fail to show, the descriptions make up in sight, sound, and smell. While Sarah Baxter sets you up with the rich history of the setting, she also allows you to follow the story line of the novel.

You learn so much in a compact 144 pages. The book also introduced me to many pieces that I have yet to read and expanded my knowledge on the places I have yet to go. But I am certain that when I make my next trips, it will be so much more enriched knowing the literary value of the places I visit.

It was so interesting to read a little more about the setting of so many great novels, most which I have seen in person. The illustrations were absolutely beautiful! This book will be very enjoyable for any literature-lover to sit back and flip through.

Thanks to Quarto and Netgalley for this ARC!

A nice read. I would recommend! A very unique book. I loved that it had places from some of my favorite books.

An interesting read for the reader who loves to travel to the real-life locations of literature. Loved the illustrations.

Sarah Baxter’s Literary Places is an interesting and easy read that takes you to famous literary locations and the novels that immortalized them. Each concise entry is accompanied by Amy Grimes’ charming full-colour illustrations. However, I wish that there was much more diversity because Baxter mostly focused on Europe and North America. Moreover, if you’re hoping for more details and want a more traditional travel guide, this isn’t the book for you.

The book takes you through twenty-five places, including The God of Small Things’ Kerala to the Yorkshire Moors of Wuthering Heights and The Catcher in the Rye’s New York. Each brief section features easy-to-read but engaging writing. Baxter includes interesting and relevant history on each place as well as a simple summary of each novel. I’m excited to check out Naguib Mahfouz’ Palace Walk and Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain because the descriptions sparked my interest.

But, the book is sorely lacking in diversity. I was hoping to discover new literary locations in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. I also wanted more non-white authors. Baxter mostly focused on white authors in North America and Europe. The book would be more interesting if more novels from diverse authors and different continents were included.

Each location is accompanied by Grimes’ full-colour illustrations. These simple but effective pictures are lovely and softly coloured. I particularly like the depictions in the Monterey and Kerala sections. However, some pictures needed to be more relevant to each section because they felt too generic.

The book is a succinct introduction to these literary places. It made me want to research the books, authors, and fascinating locations. It also definitely inspired me to consider traveling to these wonderful locations. However, I’m hesitant to call this book a travel guide simply because it does not provide enough details.

Literary Places is a great read which introduces you to famous literary locations. The full-colour illustrations are lovely. However, I wish some pictures were more specific to each location and that the book was much more diverse and included more authors and locations from around the world. But, I enjoyed this book. I hope Baxter and Grimes release another more detailed collection soon. If you love reading about novels, fascinating locations, or are just looking for a light and pretty read, check this book out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.

📖 📖 📖 books out of 5!

This is a beautiful and interesting book. If you are interested in books, reading and learning more about the places of literary works this is a great book. The illustrations going with each one are works of art with some summary of the location including a few details of the story and more. It really is interesting for any reader that likes learning more about books or inspired by more details featured in books. You'll find a variety of classic book literary places inside this book.

Less a travel guide and more a coffee table book, Baxter entertains her readers with charming short texts about the places where major literary works are set. We hear about the meaning of those places in the context of the stories, but also in real life - but these are no elaborate or even scientific examinations, mind you, but small vignettes that intend to evoke an atmosphere. The effect is supported by lovely drawings by Amy Grimes that dominate the whole book.

The "literary places" and their respective books are:

Paris, "Les Misérables"
Dublin, "Ulysses"
Florence, "A Room With a View"
Naples, "My Brilliant Friend"
Berlin, "Berlin Alexanderplatz"
Nordland, "Growth of the Soil"
St. Petersburh, "Crime and Punishment"
Sierra de Guadarrama, "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
La Mancha, "Don Quixote"
Davos, "The Magic Mountain"
Bath, "Northanger Abbey" & "Persuasion"
London, "Oliver Twist"
Yorkshire Moors, "Wutherin Heights"
Cairo, "Palace Walk"
Soweto, "Burger's Daughter"
Kerala, "The God of Small Things"
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), "The Quiet American"
Kabul, "The Kite Runner"
Hanging Rock, "Picnic at Hanging Rock"
New York, "The Catcher in the Rye"
Monterey, "Cannery Row"
Mississippi River, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
Monroeville, "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Cartagena, "Love in the Time of Cholera"
Chile, "The House of the Spirits"

Full disclosure: My epub ARC expired before I could read the whole thing, but I think I got a decent impression of the book.

This is perfect for fans of literature and travel. This is book is the perfect companion on your travels sharing with you the literary background of well-known or lesser well-known places.

The essays about books and places they inhabit were truly evocative, enticing me not only to read those books (again if I'd already read them!) but to visit those places myself. Suggested works are also great substitutes for people not able, for various reasons, to visit those cities and landscapes. I am sure the authoress had a very difficult task to select only twenty-five essays among so many good books/places. There are so many great books set in various locations, but she had to choose only a few, that had to be spread across the globe. I liked the selection and wished for more when I came to the end. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read the book.

The predominant appeal of this book by far are the illustrations. They are gorgeous and unique. Sarah Baxter brings twenty-five well known literary settings to life. Each offering the reader both a visually pleasing and informative experience. I would love to own this one as a coffee-table book!

Love the idea of setting the scene of the time well know novels were set/written. When reading I felt transported back to the time, the detail in each place is enough to make you feel a part of it.

A well researched, illustrated look at the places that we've all grown up reading about. It is a nice mix of history, travel, and literature from Paris to Chile. Great for people who enjoy travel fiction or iconic classics.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review, but all opinions are my own.

Take a trip with Sarah Baxter through some of the most famous novels and explore the locations they are set in.
From the classics like "Les Miserables" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" to modern classics like "My Brilliant Friend", you're sure to recognise some of your most loved scenes in literary history.
Although I personally have not read many of these books, I found the level of research that went into each book's location very thorough.
I liked the fact that she chose a wide spectrum of books dating from the 1800's to the present time.
She describes what the places look like at the time the novel was written, what the socio-economic and political conditions were like. She shows how the location influences the lead character and becomes a central character to the story.
She also shares background information on the author that influences at times their writing and choice of location and story development.
I loved the illustrations - nice and bright and cheerful. And they manage to convey something of the book's location. The maps were also a quaint addition - although not "accurate" in the sense of conventional maps, they gave extra character.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

As an avid reader and traveller, I loved this book even before I started it. What a great concept! I loved how the author, Sarah Baxter, selected her locations based on novel settings. I loved the variety and familiarity of the locations and literary works chosen. I also thought that the writing and descriptions where charming. Each chapter was.a delight to read but too short. Unlike other reviewers, I was not as taken by the illustrations. They were cute but I found myself longing for photographs. This is a great companion for any literature lover.

Sophie’s next book was Literary Places by Sarah Baxter, a look at the real world locations that inspired and became integral parts of many classic novels. Each short chapter explores a given location and novel, tying real locations to fictional events or looking at the real buildings that inspired fictional variations.

Literary Places travels all over the world, from New York to Cairo, the Yorkshire Moors to Kabul, London to the Australian Outback. Each of the novels selected is intrinsically linked to its location and could not be transplanted elsewhere. Ulysses could not take place outside of turn-of-the-20th-Century Dublin, nor could Les Miserables take place outside 19th Century Paris, or To Kill a Mockingbird outside the American south in the 1930s.

In the book, Baxter gives a brief overview of the novels she is discussing, then takes us on a short tour of the places that inspired it, pointing out landmarks that can be visited should you wish to take a pilgrimage. This is interspersed with illustrations by Amy Grimes whose bright and bold style helps capture the feel of these varied places. Sophie felt these descriptions were a little short and vague at times, often surprising her by their abrupt endings. This is very much a picture postcard look at these places, not a detailed essay.

Because Literary Places focuses heavily on the so-called Western Canon, the authors featured are not exactly diverse. While authors from around the world are included, of the 25 books featured in this volume, 17 were written by men, and 23 by white people. Books located in Europe account for more than 50% of the total too with the Continents of Africa and South America only covered by two titles each.

Sophie felt that while Literary Places has a great concept, it could have benefited by delving deeper and expanding its horizons a little further.

Thank you NetGalley, Author Sarah Baxter, Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

A beautiful coffee table book in my opinion. I love that it's about well known literary works as well as a travel guide if you will. Travel back in time to places you've probably heard of and see some beautiful inspiring art. As an artist the colorful images were my favorites. I look forward to seeing this one in hardback copy rather than online.

Thank you Quatro - White Lion Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

The perfect combination for booklovers whetting their wanderlust A beautifully illustrated book that takes the reader around the globe and explores lots of different sites through the eyes of well known authors.

I loved the colour illustrations and reading about places I hadn’t heard of or learning something new about those I did.
A lovely gift as either a coffee table book or a companion to get cosy with as you curl up and enjoy travelling on a new adventure.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the stunningly well done ARC. This is like the best possible travel guide for a book lover. The pictures were simply beautiful and the research that went into the book was evident. I found myself adding quite a few places to my bucket list for sure.

What a great book! It mixes both travel writing and literature, as Baxter discusses the history and culture surrounding some of the most iconic locations in popular books. I discovered new books I wanted to read, learnt about places I've never visited before and loved to read through the ones I knew all too well!

This is a perfect read for anyone who loves travel and classic literature.

A journey through some of the key locations of literature in a guide to literary travel for booklovers.

A very interesting and evocative travel writing book, covering twenty-five literary travel destinations around the world. Each travel spot gives a look at the area at the time the corresponding book took place, and compares it to the modern location- what's changed, what remains the same. A look at events and culture of the times help complete the picture. Rather than photographs, the book is filled with lovely, vibrant illustrations by Amy Grimes. Each location takes on a life of its own, like a character from the book it comes from. A very informative read for any bibliophile!

Love this beautifully illustrated coffee table book by travel journalist Sarah Baxter, which offers a colorful look at 25 literary locations around the world. You’ll be introduced to Heathcliff’s gloomy moors, Hugo’s City of Light, Quixote’s sunny La Mancha, with details on how place, culture and history impact famous authors’ famous works. With gratitude to author Sarah Baxter, Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are fully mine. 5 of 5 stars.

The tautology of describing a character as "Naïve ingénue Lucy", and mixing up Joyce's 'Ulysses' with his 'Finnegans Wake' - it's the latter which is considered the most unreadable book in literature - as well as the confusion between interred and interned, mean that this book could probably have benefited from an editor.

The concept is alluring; pick 25 of the cities or other places represented in world literature and describe how we can return to the scenes of the books. Paris of Victor Hugo was a stinking, crowded, dark city; the modernisation swept away many streets and created those wide boulevards, too big to barricade. But some of the locations can still be found. Similarly, Florence of A Room With A View is still a warm, scented, cultured contrast with an English city, while Naples still has the mafia and backdrop of Vesuvius experienced in M'Amica Geniale or My Brilliant Friend. The Spanish mountains of For Whom The Bell Tolls are still available for walkers. Yes, we can go and visit, even time travel. Dickens' London, Austen's Bath. Mahfouz's Cairo, Gordimer's Soweto, Hosseini's Kabul, Twain's Mississippi.

We get a little of the life of each author, and where they are buried, in case we'd like to visit the tomb / grave. Some authors later became controversial. Quite a few are Nobel laureates, or Booker winners, or similar. This may have been a standard used for selection. Because of this, you could also take the book as a guide to a list of literature to read and cross off, in order to be well-read and well travelled. I haven't read all the books. And confession time: I had presumed that The Catcher in The Rye was about a farming community. Rye fields. Apparently it's set in New York City. I had never heard anything about this book that made me interested in reading it. After this summary, I definitely am not interested, and I still don't know where the rye comes in. I did read Harper Lee's book aged 12, and I was fascinated to find how much of the action I could retrace today.

The account I enjoyed most in this book is how scholars puzzled out clues from Don Quixote to recreate the journeys of the book across La Mancha, where today we can see museums, plazas with statues of characters and a preserved farmhouse. The illustrations are simplistic and, as described at the back of the book, bright and bold. The idea is to capture the essence of each locale rather than to reproduce faithfully. I could not see all of them in my e-ARC but I enjoyed the pictures I did see.

I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

An interesting book, especially to anyone that reads a great deal. I was really taken with the illustrations of the setting of the various book stories and back history of the locations. I was intrigued at what would be included on the story of hanging rock, as I lived for over 30years at Macedon, and found it very factual. The rock is a very spiritual place and one can feel it when wandering through the area.
Enjoyed the book, and my travel within the places I have read about.

Literary Places makes for a perfect coffee table book as Sarah Baxter takes you on an enlightening journey through the key locations of literature’s best and brightest authors, movements and moments.

With short chapters, comprehensive research and beautiful illustrations, Baxter outlines of the history and culture of 25 literary places around the globe including the wild Yorkshire moors from Wuthering Heights to Lucy's romantic Florence in A Room with a View and the languid backwaters of Arundhati Roy’s Kerala.

A perfect book to dip in and out of, I got lost in the wonder and culture of each place which for most resulted in me going back and re-reading the original book or dreaming of visiting the locations for myself.

I'll definitely be checking out Baxter's Spiritual Places, and look forward to what will come next in the Inspired Traveller’s Guides.

This book has very nice illustrated maps and has a lot of great stories and details. I did like that. The format was a bit too much for me, would be great in a version that is designed for multiple short reads.

This book is the perfect combination of two things I love - travel and reading. After reading it I’ve added lots of new places to my want to go here list.

Through literature a reader can travel around the world and back in time. Writers manage to make places feel more real than a photo ever could. They Capture sights, sounds, smells and essense. Great writers recreate not only locations, but eras and histories

"Literary Places" is a travel guide exploring 25 great literary places featured in some of the greatest novels ever made. . Literary Places Includes full page hand drawn illustrations and dives deep into the history of each place,, and the author that brings it to life.

Some of the places and works included are
Paris: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
St Petersburg: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Sierra De Guadarrama: For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
Bath: Persuasion by Jane Austen
London: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Yorkshire Moors: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Kabul: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
New York: The Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger
Mississippi River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Monroeville: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The content is interesting and informative and the illustrations are very beautiful. However, I wish I viewed the book in print form instead of on my kindle for this reason.

Such a beautiful book! It has inspired me to travel to so many new places. The prose is great and it has a lot of great suggestions.

This book showcases 25 locations with a short narrative and lovely illustrations.  I enjoyed the book; however, I tend to be more drawn to photography in a travel-type book.  That, however is just my personal taste.

(NetGalley ebook -  I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)