The Golden Chersonese and The Way Thither

The Golden Chersonese is a travel book written by Isabella Bird, the greatest travel writer of the 19th century, and maybe of all time. It recounts her travels in 1883 through southern China and into the interior of the Malay Peninsula- which in the age of Ancient Greece and Rome was known as the Golden Chersonese. It was ground-breaking reportage at the time because many of the places she visited were totally cut off from the outside world. Her descriptions of all aspects of life in old Malaya have a huge value because she saw herself before it changed, and her writing style is forever entertaining.

“Isabella Bird was a formidable human being and a great explorer and writer and this is one of her best books.” -Gareth Powell, writer and publisher