Travel Writer Richard Ford Latest Addition To John Murray Archive

By Adam Bambury

31/10/2008

A display of the art and letters of pioneering 19th century travel writer Richard Ford, known for his critically acclaimed but potentially inflammatory tourist guide to Spain, is today being added to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Part of the John Murray Archive exhibition, the display will feature a rare first edition of 1840’s Handbook for Travellers in Spain.

The book was originally suppressed due to Ford’s friends' fears that his descriptions of Spain’s destruction at the hands of the French would cause offence. Also included is Ford’s lively correspondence with publisher John Murray regarding the controversy.

John Murray Archive Curator David McClay said: “Richard Ford is for me one of the most engaging and entertaining of letter writers in the John Murray Archive. His dramatic and emotional writings convey an honesty and passion not always evident in some other letter writers.”

A picture of a man wearing a hat standing with one hand on his hip and the other holding a stick.

Richard Ford (1796 – 1858), art connoisseur and writer famed for his knowledge of and passion for Spain. Painting courtesy of Francis Ford.

		Ford was a candid letter writer unafraid to include updates on the workings of his intestines in his correspondence. Image courtesy of the National Library of Scotland.

In the 1840s, people were only just beginning to have money and time available for leisure travel, and useful information on potential destinations was much harder to come by. The John Murray publishing house recognised this gap in the market and filled it with their red travellers’ handbooks series.

Ford’s handbook in particular was a huge success, with The Times deeming it '[one of] the best books of travel, humour, and history, social, literary, political and artistic, in the English language'.

Featured Venue

National Library of Scotland

Newcastle and Gateshead


		The Bowes Museum Celebrates Investing In Children Status
		Century Old Message In A Bottle Discovered By Workman At Bowes Museum
		TPYF - Railway Museums Launch Joint WWII Railway Worker Project
		Bowes Museum Famous Mechanical Swan Goes Back On Show In December
		Fund Raising Scheme Is Backing Great North Museum: Hancock
		Yoko Ono Takes Her Love To Tyneside For BALTIC Show
		Musical Memorabilia Wanted By Discovery Museum For New Exhibition
		Creative Partnerships Programme Goes Independent
		Picturing The Bible From Raphael To El Greco At The Bowes
		Climate Change Is The Focus For Annual Heritage Counts 2008 Report
		New Heritage Counts Report Reveals Hydroelectric Plant Renewal Plan
		Discovery Museum Explores Mental Health Issues In North East
		12 Seaside Towns To Benefit From £4.5m Government Sea Change Funding
		Laura Napier Explores The Past At Berwick Gymnasium Art Gallery
		T.M. Hemy Mauretania Oil Painting From QE2 Handed To Discovery Museum
		Two Of Britain's Roman And Maritime Heritage Sites Get Major Funding Boost
		Beamish Museum Acquires Victorian Credit Crunch Watercolours
		BALTIC Artist Projects North Run Photos Onto Sage Gateshead
		TPYF2 - South Tyneside Libraries Launch Wartime Memories Project
		The Deadpan World Of David Shrigley At BALTIC


		Mauretania Oil Painting From QE2 Handed To Discovery Museum An oil painting by 19th century artist T.M. Hemy has been handed to Newcastle’s Discovery Museum from its home on board the QE2. Click here to find out more...


	About Us \| Site map \| Get Involved \| Accessibility \| Terms & Conditions \| Privacy Policy \| Feedback