EVENT: Nineteenth Century Journeys through America and Italy, a talk by Walter Mason

When: 1st June 2019, 10.00am for a 10.30am start

Where: Nangamay Room, Level 2, City Tattersalls Club, 194 – 204 Pitt Street, Sydney.

How much: $5 for Members, $10 for Guests.

The NSW Dickens Society has chosen Dickens’ two travel books, American Notes and Pictures from Italy as our Books of the Year for 2019. NSW Dickens Society Vice President and travel writer, Walter Mason, will examine what drove Dickens to travel, and the distinctively 19th century obsessions that shaped his itinerary while abroad. These books managed to infuriate and offend as much as they delighted readers, and we will spend some time looking at the assumptions and prejudices that Dickens took with him along with his wife, his family and his travel trunks. From phrenology and burning books to smouldering volcanoes and street carnivals, this will be a wonderful opportunity to visit two of Dickens’ less well-known texts and look at what it means for a writer to travel, to observe and to record things seen. Walter’s witty and informed talks are always a great favourite of Society members.

Visit: http://www.waltermason.com/

Walter Mason