Eric Newby (1919-2006) was an acclaimed English travel writer, the author of around two dozen books, some of which are now recognised as classics of the genre. He spent time in a Geman prisoner of was camp in Italy during the War, escaped, and was recaptured. This book is quite late in his travel writing career, and is a quite leisurely circumnavigation around the Mediterranean Sea, starting and finishing in Italy. It's hugely informative historically. Newby is very widely read and knowledgable, and he relates the history of a place alongside his own experiences with intelligence and a great deal of humour. It's a very enjoyable book.