The story in one page
The narrator resolves to prove his vigor by traversing Europe on foot, enlisting a friend named Harris as his business agent. Despite the grand intent of physical hardship, the duo frequently prioritizes comfort, convenience, and lengthy detours over actual walking. They drift down the Neckar River on a raft, observe German student dueling rituals, and hire others to climb mountains for them. The narrative is punctuated by digressions into animal language, art lessons, and bizarre local legends, all framed by a persistent, wry American perspective on European institutions. By the end, the walking project is effectively abandoned in favor of observing from afar and reading the local papers.
Who's who
- The Narrator
An American traveler who prefers plans to physical exertion.
- Harris
The narrator's agent tasked with doing the actual heavy lifting.
- Jim Baker
A backwoods expert who theorizes about jay bird linguistics.
- German Students
University attendees preoccupied with dueling and facial scarring.
What it's really about
- American Ingenuity
- Finding ways to do less work while traveling.
- Cultural Mismatch
- An American perspective on stiff European customs.
Why it's memorable
- A raft crew terrified of being hit by rocks from railway blasting.
- Harris struggling to mountain climb while the narrator stays in bed.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The travelogue wraps up with an analysis of German newspapers, including a horrific crime report and humorous illustrations of destitute travelers.
For your book club
- Why the narrator assigns his most difficult tasks to his agent.
- The absurdity of learning a language through a travelogue format.