Newspaper Article

Baedeker is back Nigel Tisdall welcomes the surprise return of the guidebooks once considered essential for civilised travel

Tisdall, Nigel

2007

Overview

In these super-sensitive times, it is inevitable that a modern guide to Egypt no longer includes a chapter entitled Intercourse with Orientals (about conversing with your dragoman, actually), but one is left with a sneaking feeling that a century ago travellers had so much more fun. Come sunset in Luxor, New Baedeker recommends we sit down and admire its temple ruins in the atmospheric light, whereas Old Baedeker points out that this is a good time to go off to the Ramesseum and shoot a jackal. When faced with hassle from vendors at the Pyramids, New Baedeker suggests maintaining \"a healthy distrust\" of all offers. Old Baedeker has no time for such shilly-shallying. If confronted with a \"light cavalry\" of importuning donkey-boys, he recommends threatening use of a stick. Sturm und Drang, that was the way to travel. When compared with competing guides from Time Out or Dorling Kindersley, the new Baedekers appear dull - but they do their job efficiently and without any posturing, which has its appeal. Their sudden reappearance, nearly 10 years after [Karl Baedeker] published its last title in Britain, flies in the face of the much-predicted demise of the guidebook (and print in general) in favour of online and digital alternatives. Thankfully, there are many of us who still prefer pages to screens, and while this 21st-century Baedeker will in time be backed up with a searchable website offering downloads and updates, the company holds true to the traditional view that when you are on the road a book is still the best companion. \"We don't believe that in five or 50 years this is going to change,\" a spokesman told Telegraph Travel. \"The Baedeker guide has many years left. Our readers use them for planning, while travelling, then keep them as a reminder of a very good holiday.\"

• Publisher: Daily Telegraph
• Subject: Baedeker, Karl