Here's a selection of titles to take the reader far from home and the present. Which ones have you read? Where would you go? If you can't go anywhere soon in person, try an arm-chair vacation combined with time-travel via a book. This is a very short list, only 8 titles.

Japan - Sh¯ogun : the epic novel of Japan
PS3553.L365 S56 2009
James Clavell’s epic book brought
the world of feudal Japan to life. Seen through the eyes of John Blackthorne,
the first Englishman in Japan, the novel opened up a whole new culture to
Western readers. Though the metropolis of Toyko is nothing like the Edo of the
book, many areas surrounding the city still hold links to the old ways. Tours
based on the book are available from a variety of groups, many of which are
based on the movements of William Adams- the inspiration for Blackthorne.

Ural Mountains, Russia
- Dr. Zhivago
PL2869.N565 Z47713 2008
Russian literature often
features tales of doomed love and conflicted souls. Dr. Zhivago, with
its sweeping love story set during one of Russia’s most tumultuous time
periods, has tugged at heartstrings and captured imaginations since it was published
in 1957. It has been made into films for the big screen and television for
decades since. Companies offer tours of varying itineraries for fans to
experience Russia through the lens of Boris Pasternak’s timeless love story.
From a Trans-Siberian train trip to bus tours from Moscow, Perm (the real
Yuriatin) is the destination for those who wish to retrace the footsteps of
Yuri and Lara.

Transylvania region, Romania
- Dracula
PR6037.T617 D7 1993
Whether you are a lover of Dracula,
history aficionado, or just like to travel off the beaten path there is a tour
for you in the Transylvanian region of Romania. Vlad Dracul, the infamous
inspiration for Bram Stoker’s timeless villain Dracula, ruled over what
was then Wallachia and left his mark on many places in the region. From this
birthplace, Sighisoara, to his tomb at Snagov Monastery and the haunting Bran
Castle, the curious can take tours by car, bus, or train to explore the land
where gruesome fact meets romantic horror.

Paris, France - Les
Miserables
PQ2286 .A39 1992
Even if someone has never been
to Paris, nearly everyone can conjure up an image of the city from novels, art,
or film. The legacy of the French Romantics can be thanked for that and Victor
Hugo was probably the most well known of those artists. With characters from
all social casts loving, fighting and struggling together forging a new
republican France, Hugo turned Paris itself into a romantic hero. No work of
his encompasses the scope of his vision as
Les Miserables. You can tour
the city and
see all the scenes from this classic, nearly all much as they were
then.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK -
Standing
in Another Man’s Grave
PR6068.A57 S73 2013
Ian Rankin’s John Rebus ranks
with Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe as a great in the realm of hard boiled
detectives. Like Los Angeles in 1940’s noir, Rebus’ Edinburgh is his real
partner throughout the series. The city often associated with its castle and
arts festivals is laid bare in the Rebus books, exposing the dark side as well
as its everyday customs. Fans of Rebus are no doubt rejoicing with the
publication of his return last month in Standing in Another Man’s Grave. Celebrate
by taking a Rankin approved tour through Edinburgh and see it through Rebus’
eyes.

Pamplona, Spain -
The Sun Also Rises
PS3515.E37 S8 1996
Ernest Hemingway had a knack for
capturing the essence of any place he committed to paper. From Paris to
Petoskey, Michigan, where he wrote, local tourism boards are more than happy to
chart his time in their region. Of all his haunts, perhaps the one with the
most romantic appeal is Pamplona. The Sun Also Rises, often considered
his finest novel, is full of passion against the backdrop of the city. The rich
details of the bullfight, the affairs, and the unfettered machismo are all
enriched by the pageantry of the Festival of San Fermin. Follow in Hemingway's footsteps in Pamplona.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador - The
Origin of the Species
QH365 .O2 1979c
The Galapagos Islands might be
one of the most important destinations in a book. It was here Darwin made
observations that were key to his theory of natural selection. A trip to the
islands is anything but a typical day at the beach. Visit with Nova's multimedia map, see the islands as they are today and learn how they inspired Darwin.

Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Anne of Green Gables
PZ7.M768 An 1998
Lucy Maud Montgomery drew on the island that was her home to create one of
literature’s most memorable young adult characters. The Canadian government has
taken care to preserve much of what inspired Montgomery’s books, giving
tourists a fairly authentic experience.
Have you been
inspired to travel to a place you’ve read about? Or, has your travel inspired
you to read books that previously might not have been on your reading list? What is your favorite literary locale?
(Title and some links suggested by Bookpublishing.com)