Round the World: Letters from Japan, China, India and Egypt. Published in Cleveland, Ohio 1872 privately for his friends 1872

Curator: Here we have William Perry Fogg's "Round the World: Letters from Japan, China, India and Egypt," published in 1872. It's a personal account, shared privately with friends. Editor: It's quite striking. The sepia-toned portrait exudes a sense of Victorian-era confidence and formality, almost like a calling card. Curator: Indeed, it offers a window into the 19th-century fascination with global exploration and the power dynamics inherent in such travels. Who gets to write these narratives? Editor: Absolutely, and how were those narratives received? The act of private publishing suggests Fogg's awareness of his audience and the image he wished to project. Curator: Precisely. This book, beyond its travelogue, becomes a historical artifact reflecting social standing and access to global spaces. Editor: It gives us so much to consider about travel, privilege, and representation then, and now. Curator: An insightful consideration of the relationship between personal narrative, power, and broader historical context. Editor: A powerful reminder that travel narratives are rarely neutral.