A short history of humour in travel writing

Until comparatively recent times, travel writing has not been a genre renowned for its humorous qualities. Yet nothing demonstrates the cultural and historical relativity of humour as clearly evolution from early nineteenth century onwards. With focus on three narratives failed quests, this essay traces broad developmental arc in over two hundred years. The narrative John Ross’s Arctic expedition exemplifies way which colonial-era invites readers to share comic superiority simple-minded indigenes. From mid-twentieth century, Eric Newby’s work illustrates trend towards self-irony self-mockery whereby becomes versatile expression rhetoric anti-conquest. Finally, Bill Bryson’s books typify increasing reliance contemporary incongruities form content other strategies consistent with development post-touristic stance.