The Traveler Abroad

The narrative trope of a traveler having a life changing experience while journeying far from home, and everything that that home means (negative or positive) forms the core thematic foundation of this novel. This particular trope has been popular with creators and audiences/readers alike for decades, if not centuries. Just a few examples include E.M. Forster’s Edwardian-era novel A Room with a View, David Lean’s mid-1950’s film Summertime, and the early 2000’s Broadway musical The Light in the Piazza, all of which develop this theme – and, interestingly, all set their narratives in Italy, a common setting for such stories but not the only one by any means. Memoirs and films such as the recent Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, chronicle the same experience, only closer to home: an American encounters new aspects of self and life while on a journey...