Are there any published diaries of early pilgrims that walked?

[Peregrino Falcon]

I just saw a post here that I can no longer find about a pilgrim that walked in 1948.

It was interesting to me and got me wondering if there are any old stories or published diaries from pilgrims that walked the Camino Frances 50, 100, or even more years ago? I would love to read those accounts even more than the modern travelogues, but it would also be interesting to compare the two to see how landscape, farms, people, cities and villages, trail conditions, and buildings/ruins have changed over time...

Just a thought!

Please post the names of them if you know of any! Thanks!

 

[mspath]

What a great topic for a dissertation! To begin read some of the early 20th c descriptions by Georgina Goddard King and published c1920. Begin to research her and her Spanish journeys in this earlier Forum thread.

 

[scruffy1]

Peregrino Falcon Shalom!
Your idea is grand, far too grand! Start with "The Road to Santiago - Pilgrims of Saint James" by Willaiam Starkie 1957. He recounts the history of pilgrimage to Santiago over the centuries and recounts the lives of pilgrims from nobility to peasants to gypsies down into the twentieth century. He was no scholastic so there is no bibliography but that will get you started. May be hard ton find in a library and is expensive to buy ($30) even after all these years but is a wonderful book.

 

[Kanga]

Oh dear, you have started me reading and I don't have time! Wonderful stuff. Thank you Margaret, for the link.

 

[mspath]

Starkie note only relates memories of his own c 1950 pilgrimages but mentions early medieval texts such as the Guide du Pelerin, the 12th c classic by Aymery Picaud who is often cited as the earliest travel writer for Spain. His guide forms part of the Codex Calixtinus another famous/infamous manuscript from the middle ages.

Lots to read and ponder; camino ways never end!

 

[Tincatinker]

I just saw a post here that I can no longer find about a pilgrim that walked in 1948.

Here you go - www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/a-1948-pilgrimage.36028/

 

[David]

1. If there are I think they will be in German. The Germans tend to start really early