The Best American Travel Writing 2019

An eclectic compendium of the best travel writing essays published in 2018, collected by Alexandra Fuller. THE BEST AMERICAN TRAVEL WRITING SERIES gathers together a satisfyingly varied medley of perspectives, all offering a deep cultural exploration of what it means to travel somewhere new. For the past two decades, readers have come to recognize this annual volume as the gold standard for excellence in literary travel writing. This year’s volume journeys to the front lines of history, culture, and controversy, exploring: Global Perspectives: Venture from a post-apocalyptic Chernobyl and the walls of Guantánamo to the jungles of Sumatra and the most crowded island in the world. Literary Journalism: Discover how Nashville became a bachelorette party hub, what it’s like to walk from Selma to Montgomery, and why a group of Brazilians traveled 18 hours on a riverboat to vote. Cultural Encounters: Experience the spread of the chile pepper across the globe, the complexities of tourism in China, and the surprising politics of paprika in Hungary. The Art of Travel Writing: Collected by celebrated author Alexandra Fuller, this volume showcases the power of the first-person narrative to connect us, challenge our perspectives, and reveal who we really are.