Henry Vollam Morton Books

hardback book

The Tuscan landscape, writes H. V. Morton, "is embroidered everywhere by human living, and there is scarcely a hill, a stream, a grove of trees, without its story of God, of love or death." Morton's stories and observations of Tuscany, Lombardy, Emilia, and Veneto, whether relating to the fantastic reconstruction of the La Scala opera house or the superstitious lovers at Juliet's Tomb, make his style as engaging as the landscape and people he evokes.

A handsome re-issue of a travel classic. With his trademark wit and inquisitive eye, H. V. Morton travels through a Spain unspoilt by tourism, revealing a country where the past is very much alive. Interspersed with episodes from Spain's rich history, A Stranger in Spain is a journey of discovery that should appeal to those with a sense of adventure. Morton’s classic travel book on Spain is a delightful travel guide and a striking introduction to Spanish history and culture. "The stranger who wishes to approach Spain with sympathy and appreciation," H. V. Morton wrote, "must do so through its history." Thus, as he takes us on a leisurely tour through a country where the past is very much alive, he reveals a rich tapestry of events, related with his inimitable humor, charm, and sincerity. The Spain of the Christian kings and the caliphs of Córdoba, of Philip II, and the tragic Hapsburgs, the Spain of Columbus, of St Teresa, of Cortés and Pizarro, Velázquez, and Goya, is the thread on which his narrative is strung. Vivid, varied, and enchanting, A Stranger in Spain reflects the pleasures and surprises of travel at its best, and will be enjoyed by all who know the country or intend to visit it, or simply prefer to travel at home.

This is H.V. Morton's account of his sojourn in Rome. He leads the reader on a well-informed and insightful journey around the city from the Fontana di Trevi and the Collosseum to the Vatican Gardens.