Dear Anglophiles: Today's guest writer, Samantha Scott, with Stride Travel, gives us the lowdown on where we can soak up literary history of some of our favorite British writers. Time to buy a ticket to cross the pond, right?
Essential Stops on a British Literary History Tour
by
Samantha Scott
by
Samantha Scott
From Bronte to Bridget Jones, Darcy to David Copperfield, the UK is the place to be for impressive literary history and heritage.
As one strolls the English countryside, wanders cavernous castles, or fights the biting chill of the Yorkshire moors, this rich literary legacy becomes satisfyingly palpable. Nothing quite beats brewing a cup of tea and curling up with the sophisticated wit of Jane Austen or the poetic haunting of a Bronte tale as the rain beats against the window.
These familiar names all hail from the small yet mighty United Kingdom, their stories practically on top of each other. A literary tour will take you through the centuries to discover where they lived and worked. To paraphrase J.M. Barrie: “There’s barely any space between one famous author and another.”
Here are some can't miss stops:
1. Bronte Parsonage Museum
The story of the Brontes is as entrancing as it is mysterious. The women who gave us such haunting stories as "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights" began their lives in a small Yorkshire parsonage, where their father served as a clergyman.
Surrounded by wild, untamed moors, the parsonage cemetery their playground, their upbringing played a critical role in providing inspiration for their novels. Today the parsonage has been converted into a museum offering tours and activities.
2. Jane Austen House
Surrounded by wild, untamed moors, the parsonage cemetery their playground, their upbringing played a critical role in providing inspiration for their novels. Today the parsonage has been converted into a museum offering tours and activities.
2. Jane Austen House
Arguably one of the most influential authors of all time, Jane Austen's works have delighted audiences for centuries, inspiring many modern films and re-imaginings such as "Bridget Jones Diary."
Throughout her writing, Austen provides a rare authentic glimpse into the challenges, obstacles, and everyday issues faced by women and families of a certain social status in the early 1800's. They are accessible time capsules - essential reading for understanding the female experience at a pivotal moment in history.
Between 1809 and 1817 she lived and worked in a small cottage with her mother and sister. It was here that she completed many works, including perhaps her most famous: "Pride and Prejudice" (originally titled "First Impressions").
Today the house is a museum dedicated to her life and works.
3. Beatrix Potter's House
Throughout her writing, Austen provides a rare authentic glimpse into the challenges, obstacles, and everyday issues faced by women and families of a certain social status in the early 1800's. They are accessible time capsules - essential reading for understanding the female experience at a pivotal moment in history.
Between 1809 and 1817 she lived and worked in a small cottage with her mother and sister. It was here that she completed many works, including perhaps her most famous: "Pride and Prejudice" (originally titled "First Impressions").
Today the house is a museum dedicated to her life and works.
3. Beatrix Potter's House
Talented illustrator and storyteller, Beatrix Potter, lived from 1905 to 1913 in just the sort of place you'd expect. The sort of place where it's not too hard to imagine the fluffy tail of Peter Rabbit disappearing behind a fence, after having gotten into some sort of mischief.
In the idyllic English Countryside, Beatrix Potter's home (which she purchased in 1905 with proceeds made from the Peter Rabbit books) is open for walk throughs and tours. Set up to appear just as it might have on a typical day during her life, there are nods to her famous works throughout every room.
Try to visit in the summer so as to have the best weather possible for enjoying the picturesque farmlands full of flowers and vegetable gardens!
4. Eagle and Child Pub
In the idyllic English Countryside, Beatrix Potter's home (which she purchased in 1905 with proceeds made from the Peter Rabbit books) is open for walk throughs and tours. Set up to appear just as it might have on a typical day during her life, there are nods to her famous works throughout every room.
Try to visit in the summer so as to have the best weather possible for enjoying the picturesque farmlands full of flowers and vegetable gardens!
4. Eagle and Child Pub
A favorite meeting place of contemporaries J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, this watering hole played host to their writers group known as “the Inklings” in the 1930s and 40s. While the two prolific authors famously debated over many things, especially religion, they maintained a strong mutual respect and friendship throughout their lives.
Who knows, maybe a visit to this watering hole will inspire you to write the next great fantasy masterpiece!
5. William Shakespeare House & The Globe Theater
Who knows, maybe a visit to this watering hole will inspire you to write the next great fantasy masterpiece!
5. William Shakespeare House & The Globe Theater
A literary journey through the UK wouldn't be complete without a visit to the house of the man himself: William Shakespeare! The gifted playwright who gave us "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet," and "Macbeth," just to name a few, was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Today the house he grew up in is open to visitors, as is Anne Hathaway's cottage and garden (no, not that Anne Hathaway). The two often strolled in her gardens as they were courting, and were married in 1582.
Shakespeare’s plays were famously put on at the Globe Theater, attended by both commoner and royalty alike. The original Globe burned down in the mid 1600’s but a detailed replica was erected in 1997, not 800 feet from where the original stood. Today it remains an active theater and educational space.
6. Oxford University
Take a walk through actual Hogwarts when you visit the Oxford University campus. And those familiar with the epic trilogy "His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman will recognize Oxford as the place where title character Lyra lives the first chapter of her life (pun intended). Oxford is in fact made up of several colleges, and walking tours are held regularly. It’s important to remember that Oxford is a fully functioning university so going with a tour is the best way to be respectful of not disrupting classes or events that might be going on.
GUEST AUTHOR: Samantha Scott is a travel writer and blogger, obsessed with history, film, & literature. She began her travel writing career writing for Wanderlust & Lipstick and is currently managing content for Stride Travel, the largest search & reviews site for professionally planned travel. You can read more of her work on their blog page.
