A Romantic in Spain Paperback - 2001

Chiang Yee's account of London, first published in 1938, is original in more ways than one. Not only one of the first widely available books written by a Chinese author in English, it also reverses the expected conventions of travel writing. For here the "exotic" subject matter is none other than London and its people, quizzically observed as an alien culture by a visiting foreigner. Immersing himself in the strange rituals of London life, Chiang Yee set out to learn about Londoners, their habits and their pleasures. In pubs and cafes, cinemas and art galleries, he watched the locals at work and at play. Fascinated by such social conventions as afternoon tea and discussing the weather, he tried to make sense of British society, treating his subjects with a mix of wonderment and affection. As he lived through the capital's various seasons, and endured the notorious London fogs, Chiang Yee's affinity with the city and its people grew.

Illustrated with the author's own atmospheric sketches, The Silent Traveller in London is also a book about China and a world in transition. Comparing London with his native land, Chiang Yee draws parallels and contrasts, seeking to rectify misunderstandings and stereotypes regarding Chinese life.

In May 1840, Theophile Gautier, the enfant terrible of the French Romantic movement, set off by coach from Paris for a journey to Spain. Hired by the journal La Presse to send back regular installments of his travelogue, Gautier recorded his experiences and impressions with extraordinaryvividness and enthusiasm. The end result was the book Voyage en Espagne (1845), an enthralling piece of travel writing later translated into English.