On the Road

The latest issue of The TLS features diverse literary and historical explorations, ranging from the archaeological discovery of d'Artagnan’s remains in Maastricht to the complex life of travel writer Jan Morris. Biographer Sara Wheeler details the process of uncovering Morris’s private archives, emphasizing the writer’s ability to capture the "ongoing past" and her eventual transcendence of gender. Wheeler argues that effective travel writing relies on radical specificity and a shift away from colonial-era detachment toward transactional, respectful engagement with the "other." The episode concludes with poet Abigail Dembo reading her work, illustrating the power of random word association in the creative process. This collection of insights underscores the enduring relevance of historical figures and the evolving methodologies of contemporary life writing and travel journalism.