The Traveler in Winter
Review of the Liveright hardcover edition (2018)

Journalist, historian and travel writer Jan Morris (né James Morris) passed away November 20, 2020 at the age of 94. Still writing into her 90's, her current final books are the diary memoirs In My Mind's Eye (2018) and Thinking Again (2020). There is a hint (in Day 173 of Mind's Eye) that further books are yet to come via publisher Faber & Faber, as Morris refers to 2 books "in the stocks," and one that is being held back to be published posthumously.

Over a career spanning 7 decades, she wrote 40 books after starting with a major scoop from being the sole journalist accompanying the Edmund Hillary Everest expedition in 1953. Morris' coded message (sent by runner from the base camp to a local village) of the victorious ascent by Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzig Norgay reached London, England in time to be announced on the day of Elizabeth II's coronation. Coronation Everest (1956) documented those events. Travel writing made up the most of her career with Venice (1960) and Trieste and The Meaning of Nowhere (2001) considered to be two of the favourites. In the 1970s, James took the then radical step of sex reassignment surgery to become Jan, events documented in Conundrum (1974).

After such a dramatic career, the diary entries of a nonagenarian might seem to be a bit of a let down, but not for me. Morris is still entertaining, humorous and perceptive about daily life and news and determined to be positive and kind despite the trials of old age. Wife/partner Elizabeth is sinking into dementia but is always up for a ride or a walk. Morris always does a thousand pace daily walk to keep fit while observing the local Welsh countryside. That and a regular daily breakfast of tea, cornflakes (actually Fruit & Nut muesli) and toast & marmalade (7 sorts, 1 for each day of the week) seem to be her secret for longevity.

Anyway, I found this to be thoroughly enjoyable, but as I am a senior myself who has also been caregiver to relatives with dementia and organ failure issues, it struck very close to home for me and that is likely a prime reason for the 5-star rating. Younger readers may not be quite able to identify so well.

Thanks for Liisa, Martin & family for the always thoughtful book gift!

Trivia and Link
In Mind's Eye, Morris regularly refers to travels and repairs associated with her beloved car, a Honda Civic Type-R 2006 model. However, most editions of the book show Morris posing proudly on the cover with what must have been a previous beloved vehicle, a blue two-door Morris Minor. ( )

Wry smiles and repetition. Musings about life, kindness, poetry and Johnson’s Dictionary are welcome, but there was too much about sheep and zoos, cats, Churchill and her Honda R.
Only for those familiar with Jan Morris. But if I can write like that in my nineties, I will be grateful. ( )

I wasn't expecting too much from this book --as subject matter, the daily reflections of a nonagenarian sounds a bit tepid, and perhaps more than a little depressing. Not so! Ms. Morris mind is ever various and mostly funny. She has strong opinions, and doesn't hesitate to share them, and she has a sharp eye and a long history. It's not that she ignores the difficulties that come with great age; her partner suffers from dementia, and she herself forgets things distressingly often. But she meets these difficulties with humor and toughness. I read this book over several evenings, dipping into before I fell asleep, and I miss it already. Fortunately, Ms. Morris has written about 40 other books, so I am thankful for this introduction. ( )

A 92 year old who has lead a most unusual, interesting, and well traveled life reflects on the present from her remote corner of Wales. ( )