This anthology aims to challenge stereotypes of women travellers by presenting writings by women who travelled bravely around the world disregarding social convention and danger. As well as the eccentric woman traveller, the anthology includes writings by those who might be seen as failed travellers, cautious and conventional travellers and those who did not conform to the adventure-hero stereotype. It highlights the textual problems faced by women travel writers for example in the depiction of other women, in relation to the adventure hero narrative and character and in the author’s representation of knowledge. Famous, infamous and unknown writers also challenge preconceptions about what makes a traveller.