Travel and Literature

Associate Professor Geraldine Barnes
Associate Professor Adrian Mitchell
Dr Vanessa Smith
Dr Diane Speed

Postgraduate students:

Alison O'Harae
Gro Frølund

The strengths of this research group extend across the three sub-sections of English (English Language and Early English Literature; English Literature after 1500; Australian Literature) - that is, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the late 20th century. Our conference papers and publications on fictional and non-fictional travel writing over the last few years have focused on:

• the editing of travel narratives
• women's travel writing
• discovery narrative and myths of national foundation
• imaginary voyages
• travel writing and romanticism
• travel writing and colonialism

The resources of the University of Sydney library range from the rich collection of 17th- and 18th-century travel writings in its Rare Book collection to its recent 5th-million acqusition, Early English Books Online (EEBO), which offers access to every book printed in England from 1475-1700.