Grand Tours and Cook's Tours

This engaging historical account covers the evolution of leisure travel from the 18th century to World War I, exploring the changes in technology, trends, and destinations. Starting with the exclusive Grand Tour of Europe for wealthy British sons, the book delves into how mass tourism emerged and became accessible to the general public. Along the way, readers are treated to fascinating anecdotes of famous travelers like Mark Twain and Charles Dickens, as well as lesser-known adventurers including Ida Pfeiffer and Amelia Edwards. This book is a tribute to the early entrepreneurs who made travel possible, including Karl Baedecker, Cesar Ritz, and Thomas Cook.