Appearances: Being Notes of Travel

"Appearances: Being Notes of Travel" by G. Lowes Dickinson is a reflective travelogue chronicling the author’s journeys through Eastern lands like India and China, juxtaposing them with his perspectives on Western civilization. The narrative inspects cultural interactions between Eastern and Western societies while shedding light on the author's thoughts about identity, colonialism, and the very essence of civilization. Dickinson initiates the book with his travel philosophy as a path to cultural understanding, candidly acknowledging the structures influencing the English in India and critiquing colonial social norms. Through observations of interactions between fellow travelers and locals, he explores English identity as perceived by both insiders and foreigners, positioning the work as a contemplation on the deep cultural contrasts witnessed throughout his voyages.