Little Travels and Roadside Sketches

"Little Travels and Roadside Sketches" by William Makepeace Thackeray is a collection of travel writings from the Victorian era, where the author shares his experiences and insights on a trip from Richmond to Brussels, with stops in Ghent and Bruges. Thackeray uses his journey to comment on the people, landscapes, and cultures he sees, all with a witty and observant style. Readers are taken along on steamer rides and tours through towns, meeting people from all walks of life. The book thoughtfully examines the details of society, offering both humorous stories about the upper class and kind observations about everyday life. Thackeray critiques the importance people put on social status while also valuing the common human experience, giving readers an insightful look into 19th-century Europe.