How do you get to know a place before you ever set foot there? For many of our travellers, fiction is the answer.
Each of these four novels is a sensory invitation, bringing destinations to life and making them feel personal before your journey even begins.
Noble House by James Clavell
Hong Kong in the 1960s is brought vividly to life through intrigue, business and shifting alliances. In Noble House, Clavell moves from boardrooms to backstreets, offering a portrait of the city’s energy and complexity at a turning point in its history.
Pair with: Highlights of China including Yangtze Cruise
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Confined to the Metropol Hotel, Count Rostov watches decades of Russian history unfold from the heart of Moscow. Towles’ attention to architecture, daily rituals and relationships in A Gentleman in Moscow draws out the layers of the city beyond the hotel’s doors.
Pair with: Moscow and St Petersburg Highlights
The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
Penang’s multicultural heritage and atmosphere shape The Gift of Rain, set before and during the Japanese occupation. Through the story of shifting loyalties, Eng immerses readers in the city’s temples, gardens and rain-washed streets.
Pair with: Best of Peninsular Malaysia
Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
Ondaatje’s story follows a forensic anthropologist returning to Sri Lanka in the midst of civil conflict. Anil’s Ghost moves between sacred sites, villages and cities, offering glimpses of both the island’s scars and its resilience.
Pair with: Highlights of Sri Lanka
Looking for more than a reading list? Our team can suggest destinations and experiences to match the stories you love – so your travels are as vivid as the novels that inspire them.
Whether a particular book has sparked your curiosity or you already have a place in mind, get in touch and we’ll work with you to create a journey shaped by story and setting.
