Explore the most remarkable travel literature of 2025, including the distinguished winner of the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year and an impressive selection of shortlisted titles. This collection presents a fascinating array of narratives, from deep dives into colonial histories and nocturnal investigations to vibrant cultural expeditions and intimate personal reflections. Additionally, the Viking Award for Fiction with a Sense of Place recognizes works of fiction that compellingly evoke diverse global locales.
Insightful Literary Explorations of Travel and Culture
This year's literary landscape for travel narratives is exceptionally rich, showcasing a blend of historical research, personal adventure, and cultural commentary. Kicking off the list is Sophy Roberts's “A Training School for Elephants,” a meticulously researched account that traces King Leopold II's 1879 elephant training expedition. Roberts's journey through Belgium, Iraq, India, Tanzania, and the Congo unearths a gripping tale of colonial ambition and the eclectic characters, from ivory traders to cloistered nuns, who played a part in this historical saga.
Next, Dan Richards's “Overnight” offers an illuminating tribute to the hidden activities of the nocturnal world. Through various modes of transport, Richards explores what night signifies to a diverse group of individuals, revealing profound insights into their lives and work after dusk.
From the culinary world, Caroline Eden's “Green Mountains” blends travel writing with a cookbook, guiding readers from Armenia to the Black Sea via Georgia. Eden vividly portrays the rich histories, distinctive recipes, and enduring culinary customs of these regions.
Razeen Sally’s “Return to Sri Lanka” is a deeply personal memoir. Born to a Sri Lankan Muslim father and a Welsh mother, Sally revisits his homeland decades after political strife fragmented his family. His exploration goes beyond typical tourist routes, intertwining history, current affairs, and his own poignant memories to uncover the island’s modern allure and lingering scars of conflict.
Erling Kagge's “The North Pole” delves into humanity’s enduring fascination with the Earth's northernmost point. The Norwegian explorer recounts his own arduous journey alongside tales of other Arctic pioneers, examining the relentless drive to conquer one of the planet's most formidable environments.
Louis D Hall’s “In Green” chronicles a captivating equestrian journey from Italy’s Apennines to Spain’s Cape Finisterre. Seeking to fulfill a childhood dream of an 'uncharted' adventure, Hall navigates the Ligurian Alps, Pyrenees, Basque Country, and Galician coast, confronting severe weather and wild animals, all for the sheer romance of discovery.
Peter Carpenter’s “Bowieland” is a moving reflection on artistic legacy and personal recovery. Following heart surgery, Carpenter embarks on a walk retracing David Bowie’s path from Brixton to Berlin, exploring the places that shaped the iconic singer’s life and work.
For those seeking practical advice, Elise Downing’s “Walk Britain” provides 90 scenic walking routes across England, Scotland, and Wales, all accessible by public transport. This comprehensive guide caters to all skill levels, featuring maps and transport details, along with GPX files for effortless navigation.
The Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year 2025 was awarded to Noo Saro-Wiwa for her insightful work, “Black Ghosts: A Journey Into the Lives of Africans in China.” Saro-Wiwa shifts focus from conventional historical and political narratives to highlight the often-overlooked lives of African economic migrants in China, shedding light on a little-documented community.
The shortlist for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year included several other compelling titles. Clare Hammond’s “On the Shadow Tracks: A Journey through Occupied Myanmar” follows her discovery of an unknown railway network, exploring its origins and colonial legacy across contested territories. Tom Chesshyre’s “Slow Trains to Istanbul …And Back” documents a 7,350km rail journey shadowing the old Orient Express route, emphasizing the value of rail travel through diverse side adventures. James Rebanks's “The Place Of Tides” offers a poetic glimpse into a centuries-old trade on a remote Norwegian island, where an elderly woman gathers eider duck down, highlighting a life intrinsically linked to the seasons. Phoebe Smith’s “Wayfarer” is a deeply personal account of healing through hiking Britain’s pilgrim paths, intertwining her trauma and loss with the stories of past travelers. Jeff Young’s “Wild Twin: Dream Maps of a Lost Soul & Drifter” captures his tumultuous journey through 1970s Europe, culminating in a poignant return home to care for his ailing father. The Map Men’s “This Way Up”, November 2025's Stanfords Book of The Month, investigates the profound impact of maps on our perception of the world. Jonathan C Slaght’s “Tigers Between Empires” celebrates a conservation triumph, detailing efforts to save Amur tigers in North-East Asia after the Soviet Union's collapse. Graham Robb’s “The Discovery of Britain” offers an entertaining blend of history and geography, exploring Britain's evolution through the eyes of its diverse inhabitants. Mariana Enriquez’s “Somebody is Walking on Your Grave” is a unique exploration of cemeteries worldwide, revealing broader historical narratives. Finally, Ned Palmer’s “A Cheesemonger’s Tour de France” traces the cultural and historical significance of French cheeses, linking them to regional identities and historical events. The Viking Award for Fiction with a Sense of Place recognized novels like Aube Rey Lescur’s “River East, River West,” Kaliane Bradley’s “The Ministry of Time,” Elif Shafak’s “There are Rivers in the Sky,” Nikki May’s “This Motherless Land,” Éric Chacour’s “What I Know About You,” and David Nicholls’s “You Are Here,” each acclaimed for their evocative settings and immersive storytelling.
These selections collectively highlight the rich tapestry of human experience and the diverse ways in which travel, history, and personal journeys intersect. They remind us that books are not just stories, but pathways to understanding different cultures, confronting challenging histories, and appreciating the beauty and complexity of our world.
