Journeys and journals

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From scientists on expeditions to soldiers on colonial missions, and from explorers on the high seas to artists in the jungle, countless travel diarists have left behind writings and illustrations that remain largely undiscovered. Their varied journals open up strange new horizons for readers, offering spontaneous accounts of distant adventures from the past to the present. The role of artists has been crucial in shaping the travel diary genre since its inception. Among the diarists featured are both unknown individuals, included for the exceptional quality of their work, and well-known figures like James Cook, William Turner, Eugène Delacroix, Paul Gauguin, and Peter Beard. This beautifully illustrated volume traces the evolution of travel diaries, from early, sometimes crude collections of drawings and notes to contemporary volumes regarded as works of art. Within these pages, readers will encounter journals of remarkable beauty and interest, some previously unseen by the public. This exploration of a genre that is both creative and scientific invites readers to engage with the wonders and discoveries of the last five hundred years, navigating an artistic landscape in constant flux.