Motoring and the Semantics of Space in British Travel Writing

What is it about?

This article explores the role of the automobile for British travel writers in the early twentieth century. It considers the ideological framing of the car as a social practice and a new means of going 'in search of England', arguing that travelogues increasingly challenged the static nature of the meaning of space, rendering motoring a dynamic and procedural practice that contributed to the negotiation of ideas of progress and tradition.

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Why is it important?

Departing from a postmodernist reading that understands space and movement not as static notions but dynamic entities, the article highlights the role of early automobility in Britain, arguing that the representation of the car and its use in travelogues challenged notions of belonging, i.e. national identity, and ideas of coming to terms with spatial surroundings.