How English women wrote about their travels in the 19th century

Illustration of explorer Isabella Bird's first walk through Perak (Malaysia), from her book 'The Golden Chersonese and the way thither'. Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

In recent years, a series of publications, anthologies and documentaries have revived the figure of the 19th century English woman traveller. On screen we can also see their lives adapted to neo-Victorian fictional characters.

Generally, these protagonists are described as “rebellious”, “intrepid”, “ambitious”, “brave”, “queens” or even “adventurous”. Their lives serve as inspiration for today’s screenwriters and artists who, for some reason, are eager to show us a different version of women’s history. For many, their stories are inspiring; for others, almost implausible. Weren’t Victorian women very repressed?