The Best American Travel Writing 2011

The Best American Series® First, Best, and Best-Selling The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction. Each volume’s series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites. A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected—and most popular—of its kind. The Best American Travel Writing 2011 includes André Aciman, Christopher Buckley, Maureen Dowd, Verlyn Klinkenborg, Ariel Levy, Téa Obreht, Annie Proulx, Gary Shteyngart, William T. Vollmann, Emily Witt, and others What happens when the country’s most talented writers journey to the world’s most fascinating, unexpected, and volatile corners? Literary Travel Writing: Follow Maureen Dowd into Saudi Arabia, William T. Vollmann through Iraqi Kurdistan, and Christopher Buckley on his year at sea. Cultural Exploration: Witness the decline of NASCAR culture, the rise of a Russian-speaking subculture in Tel Aviv, and the last stand of a pacifist commune in Copenhagen. Armchair Adventure: Hunt for real-life vampires in Serbia with Téa Obreht, search for Monet’s inspiration on the Italian Riviera, and explore the wilds of Australia’s Top End. Award-Winning Writers: Discover unforgettable new essays from literary powerhouses like Annie Proulx and André Aciman, selected by celebrated guest editor Sloane Crosley.