A WAYFARER IN PORTUGAL
By Philip S. Marden '94. Houghton, Mifflin & Cos., 1927.
Mr. Marden is known as a writer of books on travel, and has already made an interesting record of his impressions of Spain, Greece and Egypt. Portugal is so seldom visited that such a book as the one under consideration which contains useful information, together with personal opinions which a guide book can express only with great caution, will perform a real service. Surely anyone who has read Mr. Marden's book will want to see Portu gal, and when he does so will find the book an invaluable companion and supplement to the more formal guide books.
The style is quite unpretentious. The author acknowledges at once his ignorance of the Portuguese language, and his limitations as an observer both for this reason and because of his short stay in the country. He wisely confines himself to a record of his own trip, and makes almost no attempt to interpret the people or country or to seek out atmosphere. The journey is what might be called the classic tour of Portugal, beginning at Lisbon. After visiting that city and its environs, the author went north with stops at the chief. points of interest, across the Spanish frontier, and the book ends with a description of the Spanish province of Galicia.
Inside the front cover is a convenient twopage sketch map of Portugal showing the points visited by the author. The first chapter, entitled "Some Glittering Generalities," contains much practical information of use to the ordinary traveler. This is followed by a brief outline of the history of the country which is of the greatest importance in understanding the significance of what one sees. The historical background of the points of interest is never lost from sight. A number of illustrations accompany the text. In view of the fact that Portugal is, comparatively, so little known, these illustrations might profitably be increased in number. After the chapters dealing with the journey, there follows another general chapter on "Some Helpful Hints," and an index of the places and personages mentioned.
The book is written in a fresh interesting style, and the author has successfully handled the difficult problem of combining a lively account of his travels with a fund of information which makes it a valuable supplement to a guide book. He is never pedantic. He emphasizes the "unspoiled" quality of the country but also makes clear the price one must pay for it in rather primitive hotels and bad roads. His frank appreciation of unconventional architectural combinations is quite refreshing. His opinions and observations, one feels, are his own and not derived from tradition.
One wishes that the author had contented himself with using the safe English word "cathedral" or had used the correct Portuguese "a Se" instead of the impossible linguistic hybrid "el Se" which recurs frequently. As a whole, the book is both useful and interesting. As a stimulus and incentive to prospective travelers and as a guide while making the journey to Portugal, the book is amply justified, and as a narrative of travel it will prove of interest to the general reader.
