Publisher Description

Described by George Eliot as 'the only English woman that possesses thoroughly the art of writing', Harriet Martineau held a prominent position in the intellectual life of Victorian culture. This 1854 guide to Windermere was the first in her series of guides to the Lake District, leading eventually to her hugely successful Complete Guide to the English Lakes. In this Guide, Martineau engages with the emerging industry of literary tourism, and describes why the thriving village of Windermere warranted a 'new guide book'. She appreciatively details the natural features of the district and its architecture, and presents accounts of scenic walks and day tours to the neighbouring lakes, combining practical information with literary passages of description. An outstanding woman of her time, Martineau followed in Wordsworth's footsteps by fusing her identity with the local landscape of the Lake District, continuing its rich literary associations.

Table of Contents

Index; Guide to Windermere; First tour, by Newby Bridge and Ulverstone to Furness Abbey, returning by Coniston, Hawkshead, and the Ferry; Second tour, by Troutbeck to Kirkstone Pass and Patterdeal, and home by Ambleside; Third tour, by the Ferry, and the Wray, and Brathay Valley, to High Close, and down Red Bank to Grasmere and Easedale, and thence by Rydal to Ambleside; A day on the mountains; Excursions to and from Keswick; Of the flowering plants, ferns, and mosses of Windermere and its neighbourhood; Mountains and passes; Lakes and waterfalls; Directory; Advertisements.

Promotional

Martineau's 1854 Windermere handbook represents an early example of a literary tourist guide, combining practical information with rich descriptive writing.

Promotional "Headline"

Martineau's 1854 Windermere handbook represents an early example of a literary tourist guide, combining practical information with rich descriptive writing.

Description for Bookstore

The first in Harriet Martineau's popular series of guides to the Lake District, this 1854 companion to Windermere combines rich literary descriptions with practical information still of interest to the modern tourist. Following in the footsteps of Wordsworth and others, Martineau identified herself with the landscape of the Lake District.

Description for Library

The first in Harriet Martineau's popular series of guides to the Lake District, this 1854 companion to Windermere combines rich literary descriptions with practical information still of interest to the modern tourist. Following in the footsteps of Wordsworth and others, Martineau identified herself with the landscape of the Lake District.

Details