Guide to Windermere

Martineau's 1854 Windermere handbook represents an early example of a literary tourist guide, combining practical information with rich descriptive writing.

The first in Harriet Martineau's popular series of guides to the Lake District, this 1854 companion to Windermere combines rich literary descriptions with practical information still of interest to the modern tourist. Following in the footsteps of Wordsworth and others, Martineau identified herself with the landscape of the Lake District.Described by George Eliot as 'the only English woman that possesses thoroughly the art of writing', Harriet Martineau held a prominent position in the intellectual life of Victorian culture. This 1854 guide to Windermere was the first in her series of guides to the Lake District, leading eventually to her hugely successful Complete Guide to the English Lakes. In this Guide, Martineau engages with the emerging industry of literary tourism, and describes why the thriving village of Windermere warranted a 'new guide book'. She appreciatively details the natural features of the district and its architecture, and presents accounts of scenic walks and day tours to the neighbouring lakes, combining practical information with literary passages of description. An outstanding woman of her time, Martineau followed in Wordsworth's footsteps by fusing her identity with the local landscape of the Lake District, continuing its rich literary associations.