South America: An Anthology of Travel Writing

Shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction

This enchanting anthology brings together personal narratives from travellers exploring arguably the world's most exciting and varied continent. Featuring both historical accounts from famous figures and contemporary articles and blogs from well-known personalities, this deftly curated collection of fine travel writing captures the sense of excitement and awe that characterises exploration of this very special part of the world.

Across 11 chapters covering 12 countries, discover some of South America's most iconic destinations: the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu shrouded in cloudforest, the Amazon jungles, the Argentine pampas with its gaucho cowboys, Brazil's beaches, the wildlife wonders of the Galápagos, the Andean mountains, Patagonia's big skies, and the fabled Tierra del Fuego at the continent's foot. Contributors range from seminal figures of the past—Charles Darwin, Gerald Durrell, Christopher Isherwood, Jan Morris and W H Hudson—to modern-day TV personalities like Sir David Attenborough, Michael Palin, Simon Reeve and Kate Humble, plus acclaimed writers including Matthew Parris, Hilary Bradt and Stephen Moss. Their styles vary markedly, from light and comic pieces to weightier, reflective articles, covering everything from cities and wilderness to wildlife and eco-tourism, food and drink to adventure and misadventure.

Learn who risked being mistaken for a condor's lunch, discover how to make the perfect empanada, search for the world's rarest hummingbird, or find out just how far you'd travel to eat Argentine steak. Whether you've journeyed through Latin America or have always longed to visit, this anthology will delight and inspire—from the comfort of your armchair or in preparation for your next adventure.