Find This Travelogue!
December 11, 2003 10:49 AM Subscribe
I've been searching for several years for a book, the plot (or perhaps plot is the wrong word, since it was non-fiction) of which I remember clearly, but the author and title of which I do not. [ more inside ]
I will post the plot of the book, in case any mefites are actually acquainted with it (who knows, I might get lucky), but as a more general question, does anyone have suggestions or resources on how to go about tracking down a book for which I have so few details?
The book was non-fiction, a travelogue recounting a young Australian journalist's hitchhiking journery around North and South America. One of the early events in the book is that the author travels from Vancouver, North through British Columbia to the Alaska highway and up to Alaska. While the whole book was interesting, it is this specific passage that makes finding it again valuable to me, as it specifically mentions my home town of Prince George, British Columbia. This is also the most helpful event I can recall for dating the book as it took place specifically at the time when the Alaska highway was being opened (the author gets a ride North to Dawson with the Mayor of Prince George who is going to attend the ceremonies), presumably that sets the events either in 1943, when the highway was completed, or in 1948, when it was officially opened. The book then, is most likely a product of the 40s or 50s, certainly no earlier than 1943, and I would assume not too much later. The book continues with the author getting a dog, who aids him in hitchiking, travelling back south to Vancouver, then across to the East coast of the USA, then back through to the West, down through Mexico and South America, eventually ending up in Brazil for Carnival.
I will post the plot of the book, in case any mefites are actually acquainted with it (who knows, I might get lucky), but as a more general question, does anyone have suggestions or resources on how to go about tracking down a book for which I have so few details?
The book was non-fiction, a travelogue recounting a young Australian journalist's hitchhiking journery around North and South America. One of the early events in the book is that the author travels from Vancouver, North through British Columbia to the Alaska highway and up to Alaska. While the whole book was interesting, it is this specific passage that makes finding it again valuable to me, as it specifically mentions my home town of Prince George, British Columbia. This is also the most helpful event I can recall for dating the book as it took place specifically at the time when the Alaska highway was being opened (the author gets a ride North to Dawson with the Mayor of Prince George who is going to attend the ceremonies), presumably that sets the events either in 1943, when the highway was completed, or in 1948, when it was officially opened. The book then, is most likely a product of the 40s or 50s, certainly no earlier than 1943, and I would assume not too much later. The book continues with the author getting a dog, who aids him in hitchiking, travelling back south to Vancouver, then across to the East coast of the USA, then back through to the West, down through Mexico and South America, eventually ending up in Brazil for Carnival.
Is there a historical society in Prince George? They might know.
posted by Vidiot at 11:13 AM on December 11, 2003
posted by Vidiot at 11:13 AM on December 11, 2003
Eek. I grew up in PG, too. Went to Kelly Road Secondary. You?
posted by five fresh fish at 11:19 AM on December 11, 2003
posted by five fresh fish at 11:19 AM on December 11, 2003
Response by poster: KRSS Class of '94, five fresh fish.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:48 AM on December 11, 2003
posted by jacquilynne at 11:48 AM on December 11, 2003
Have you tried the "search contents of book" function on Amazon? Perhaps plugging in the name of your town or some other identifying details might help.
posted by bonheur at 12:15 PM on December 11, 2003
posted by bonheur at 12:15 PM on December 11, 2003
Response by poster: Good idea, bonheur! Unfortunately unsuccessful, but still a good idea.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:36 PM on December 11, 2003
posted by jacquilynne at 12:36 PM on December 11, 2003
Not if it was the 50s...
posted by CunningLinguist at 1:12 PM on December 11, 2003
posted by CunningLinguist at 1:12 PM on December 11, 2003
Whoo. That's a full decade after me. :-)
posted by five fresh fish at 9:41 AM on December 12, 2003
posted by five fresh fish at 9:41 AM on December 12, 2003
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posted by JollyWanker at 11:09 AM on December 11, 2003