Travels with Zenobia by Rose Wilder Lane

Travels with Zenobia Reviews

• 
  Valerie

  While it is not great literature, it is an entertaining read! The trials of getting from France to Tirana, Albania in a day when travel by auto was not very normal was quite interesting. Three women traveling alone in France and Italy was an amazement to all the people in this country. In Albania, where to this day the lines of demarcation for men's work and women's work are clearly drawn, for them to drive was a social provocation. The writing is light and entertaining; laugh out loud funny at times. Having traveled in all of these countries and lived three years in Albania, I found many things amazing: the backwardness of villages in Italy, the recognizable attitudes, traditions, and customs of Albania, and even the assumption of greater civilization of those in France. As Rose does in this book, I wrung my hands at the loss of the picturesqueness of a country and a people by the incessent march of progress and Westernization of Albania. Would you enjoy it? Good question...probably if you are interesting in how people lived in the years between the wars in these three countries...for this is not history, but an eye-witness account of what it was like. Very enjoyable!
• 
  Beth

  I read this in bits and peices as I do with most books these days. This book is a compilation of writings by Rose Wilder Lane and her friend "Troub" otherwise known as Helen Dore Boylston (author of the Sue Barton Nurse series of books) as they journeyed across Europe to Albania in 1926. For anyone interested in travelouges from this period they would probably appreciate this book, it was never meant to be a book but instead writings to Rose's parents and friends about their misadventures on the trip. I definitely got a feel for how joyous and carefree the 20's were before the great crash of the stock market.
• 
  Yorky Caz

  This has been on my wishlist for years! A shorter read than I thought but excellently laid out. The beginning is the background of Rose and Helen, the end letting us know what happened and the middle just lovely honest writings about american women way ahead of their time driving accross europe in a new Model Ford. They caused excitement and confusion in tiny towns and had adventures galore. I loved picking out their off hand comments about thoughts on world events and leaders. I wish this was longer but loved every page.
• 
  Sarah

  An interesting look at early automobile travel in Europe between the world wars. It was a quick, informative, and entertaining read.
• 
  Stacy Allbritton

  This is a charming set of epistles from Rose and Helen to Rose's parents - Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Rose is a witty writer, humorously describing her travels from Paris to Albania in a Model-T Ford in the 1920's. Having lived in Europe, too, I found myself laughing at their mishaps and adventures - not too much has changed in Europe during the 90 years since these letters were written. A must-read for fans of Laura and Rose.
• 
  Bev

  For me, this slim little book would fit in well with the other "post-little-house" diaries from the author's mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Like West from Home and On the Way Home, this is a travel journal written by Rose Wilder Lane and her companion "Troub" as they drove a model T Ford from Paris to Albania. My only disappointment is that the journal ends, abruptly, upon their arrival. However, it's a great look at automobile travel through France and Italy in the late 1920's.
• 
  Katen

  Rose Wilder Lane was a fascinating character and this is a wonderful account of her travels from Paris to Albania. She inherited her mother's (Laura Ingalls Wilder) eye for description and thoughtful commentary.