Trading in Memories, Hodgson's diary of her journeys through the flea markets of Europe, North Africa and North America and presented scrapbook-like with snapshots of her amazing finds, is a revelation that guides readers down back alleys and into musty shops. Imagine that-books with pictures for grown-ups! It may be a simple formula, but it's Hodgson's and it works like a charm every time. Whether writing fiction ( The Tattooed Map, The Sensualist), non-fiction ( The Rat: A Perverse Miscellany) or angular travel journals ( Italy Out of Hand), Hodgson drops readers into palpable netherworlds with exquisite storytelling and accompanying images. Vancouver author, book designer, and globe-trotting packrat Barbara Hodgson crafts the latter. There are books and then there are extraordinary portals to the imagination. 'synopsis' may belong to another edition of this title. This sumptuous book presents a wonderful visual and textual record of the true life and character of a place. The book looks deep into history through such objects as chandeliers left by French expatriates fleeing Shanghai in 1937 and glass lantern slides and stereoscope cards from around the world that attest to the human impulse for wanderlust, free or forced. Covering a wide cultural and physical geography from Brussels to Marrakech and Damascus to Portland, Trading in Memories follows Barbara Hodgson's travels through markets and other repositories of material culture around the world. Back alleys, obscure cemeteries, and hidden courtyards also offer up surprising finds and capture the essence of the city. She explores the streets, bookstores, and markets, where a city reveals its most private self, displaying the contents of its attics and trash bins. Those who wish to understand a city's history visit museums, but Barbara Hodgson prefers a different approach.

Trading in Memories by Barbara Hodgson