Goodreads links below.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234980720-unearthed—a-history-nerd-abroad

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mind you, I don’t like traveling. I’ve hardly been anywhere. I admit, I’m a bit of a recluse and I like being strictly at home or at least near it. But it is not about the destinations, it is the blasted traveling itself. Most of my travels have been ‘forced,’ business trips that is. I’ve been flabbergasted at Logan in Boston as the clerks at local busy Hertz told me my company’s rental car reservation had been canceled, I’ve been running across Frankfurt Airport to get to the correct gate in time(waiting at the wrong gate, a change had occurred), et cetera.
It is the traveling itself I hate.

So, why read a travelogue of a journey across Europe, containing all the suffering and trouble getting to places?
No, it’s not Schadenfreude.
First, I have read the excellent ‘Lightbulb Moments’ history books of Mr. Williams and I had a clue what to expect from his unparalleled style containing witty humor and a realistic take to the traveling and sentiments in front of the tangible history.
Second, guaranteed by the first point above, I was curious enough. You won’t get me into such a tour and, apart from IWM Duxford, I haven’t visited any other of the destinations mentioned in the book: London, Bath, Paris, Lucerne, Rome, Florence, Amsterdam, Oxford et cetera. You could try to count the attractions in those places and see why not everything is included.

‘Unearthed’ is not a flashy “hey look where I’ve been!” or even more flashy traveling commercial. Still, it will invoke an “I must get there” feeling in many readers, such are the brilliant descriptions of the historical waypoints along the route. It is an excellent tour guide with all the pros and cons with local guided tours, trains, hotels, AirBnB, buses and ‘pee-for-profit’ arrangements(just read it).

At places, the book reminds me of the adventures of Hunter S. Thompson at best, minus the drugs(beer is there, though). And true enough, there’s a sidestep memory from a Las Vegas trip!

Mr. Williams conveys his feelings along the road with great style and I can only recommend this lively travelogue/tour guide for anyone, whether you live in a cave or metropolitan center.

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