VISTA TRAVEL (STUDIO VISTA)
Series Note: "How often is the visitor to a foreign country baffled by ignorance of the historical, artistic or political background? As a result how much of interest and enjoyment is lost? This excellent series, originally published in France, but edited and in part revised for English-speaking readers, provides just that background information lacking in nearly all guide books. The plan of each volume varies: some place an emphasis on history, others on art or politics, but all include practical travel information as well and ingeniously incorporate over a hundred brilliantly chosen photographs. These books are also admirable for those whose aim is not to travel but basic information."
-- Description of the Vista Travel series on the back cover of India by Madeleine Biardeau, London, Studio Vista, 1961 (Vista Travel).
The Vista Travel series was originally published in the French language as the Petit Planète series by Editions du Seuil, Paris. The series editor of the Petit Planète series was Chris Marker.
The Studio Vista series received many positive reviews, including:
-- "...brilliant and original series of illustrated guides" (The Observer, London)
-- "Brightly written, opiniated, argumentative and copiously illustrated ... appreciations of the countries" (New York Herald Tribune)
-- "Not only handsomely produced but original in conception, intelligent and lightly written, ... they offer extraordinarily good value" (The TImes Literary Supplement)
-- "An astonishing amount of information and illustration is packed into this new series ... background information for traveller abroad which most guidebooks gloss over or neglect entirely" (Robert R. Kirsh in Los Angeles Times)
Further Reading
Isabel Stevens on Chris Marker's "Petit Planète"
Petit Planète (chrismarker.org)
Room&Book: Chris Marker's Petite Planète
Chris Marker (Wikipedia)
Serial Number / Title / Author, Illustrator, Translator, etc. / Publication Year
W1.
Italy
by Paul Lechat. Paul LECHAT; illustrations by Remo Forlani; Yvonne Kapp, tr.
1959
W2.
Greece
by Mimika Kranake. Neline C. Clegg, tr.
1959; 1963
W3.
Germany
by Joseph Rovan; Margaret Crosland, tr.
1962
W4.
Israel
by David Catarivas; F. Carter, tr.
1959; 1964
W5.
Spain
by by Dominique Aubier, and Manuel Tunon de Lara. Neline C. Clegg, tr.
1966
W6.
Austria
by Claude VAUSSON; Dorothy WILLIAMS
1963
W7.
India
by Madeleine Biardeau. F. Carter, tr.
1960
W8.
Ireland
by Camille Bourniquel; John FISHER
1960
W9.
Switzerland
by Dominique Fabre; engravings by Jacques Noel; Jean Lloyd, tr.
1961
W10.
Denmark
by Jean Bailhache
1961
W11.
Great Britain
by Jean BAILHACHE; Alan Neame
1996
W12.
Belgium
by Therese Henrot-Brouhon. Robert Erich Wolf, tr.
1960; 1963
W13.
Sweden
by François Régis BASTIDE; Alisa JAFFA, tr.
1962
W14.
Holland
by Bernard Pingaud; Harald MYERS, tr.
1962
W15.
Japan
by Yefime; Raymond Johnes
1962
W16.
Yugoslavia
by Jean Marie Domenach; Alain Pontault
1962
W17.
Turkey
by Andre Falk; R. A. Dean, tr.
1963
W18.
Portugal
by Franz Villier; Jean and Claire Pace, trs.
1963
W19.
Norway
by Silvian Pivot
1963
W20.
Egypt
by Simonne Lacouture; Veronica Hull and Paul Ableman, tr.
1963
W21.
Tahiti
by Jean Marie LOURSI; R. A. Dean, tr.
1964
W22.
Finland
by Georges DESNEIGES; Sylvie Nickels, tr.
1964
W23.
Morocco
by Vincent Monteil; Veronica HULL, tr.
1964
W24.
Poland
by Eva Fournier. Alisa Jaffa, tr.
1964
W25.
Tunisia
by Michel Zeraffa; R A Dean, tr.
1965
W26.
Iran
by Vincent Monteil; Alisa Jaffa, tr.
1965
W27.
Brazil
by Pierre Joffroy. Douglas Mavin Garman, tr.
1965
W28.
Australia
by Peter Michaels
1965
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Author: David Paul Wagner
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