Diary of an Invalid: Journal of a Tour in Pursuit of Health, 1817/19

Diary of an Invalid is a vivid account of the author’s travels through Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, and France in what he calls "a wild goose chase after health." Written in a lively and often witty style, this work provides us with a fascinating insight into the life of an Englishman abroad in the early 19th century. Although plagued by the vagaries of the weather, of which he complains volubly, this does not stop the author from visiting and describing the artistic and architectural wonders of the cities he visits with enthusiasm and interest. Accompanied by irreverent and humorous descriptions of the characters he meets along the way, this diary is an entertaining and engaging read.