Backgrounds Quote by Paul Theroux
“Mark Twain was a great traveler and he wrote three or four great travel books. I wouldn't say that I'm a travel novelist but rather a novelist who travels - and who uses travel as a background for finding stories of places.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Travel Writing, 2008
Travel is a lens for storytelling; the writer travels physically and mentally to uncover narratives of place.
In simple terms: Travel fuels storytelling.
Key Takeaway
Use travel to discover new perspectives.
Themes
exploration
storytelling
culture
observation
Mood
curious
inspired
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- journalism
- fiction writing
- documentary filmmaking
- educational tours
Key Concepts
travel literature
narrative technique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does travel change your perception of story?
- What places inspire your best writing?
A Different Perspective
Travel can be superficial without depth.
![“The critique of social inequality, which is very much a part of my story, came about naturally from my recollection of Huck and Tom and the controversy surrounding [Mark] Twain's use of them and from my own passionate interest in civil rights, animal rights, and the right of Earth to survive…” quote by Norman Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/26b/norman-lock-21222_animal_the-critique-of-social-inequality-which_145721.jpg)
