Free Public Talk —”The First Female Tourist – The Amazing Ida Pfeiffer” Friday, 28 August 2020 via ZOOM

In the 1840s it was considered utterly impossible for a woman to travel alone. Modern tourism had not yet emerged. This meant no transport accommodation, or restaurants for travellers. Despite all this, one woman decided to go her own way anyway. Ida Pfeiffer (1797-1858) was the first woman to travel and then circle the world alone. She displayed incredible courage, endurance, and perseverance. Along the way she survived storms at sea, parched deserts, plague, malaria, a near-drowning, earthquakes, robbers, murderers, headhunters, and cannibals. Singapore and Southeast Asia were perhaps her favourite destinations. As a result of her incredible exploits and her best-selling travel books, Pfeiffer became one of the most famous women in the world in the 19th century. Her tale culminates in spies, intrigue, a botched revolution, and a remarkable career cut tragically short by one voyage too many.

About the speaker: Dr John van Wyhe is a historian of science at the National University of Singapore who specialises in the explorers and naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. He is also founder and director of the award-winning Darwin Online project and has published 14 books. Dr Van Wyhe has lectured and broadcast on these topics worldwide.

This lecture is free. Spaces are limited. Visit the link to register: https://qrgo.page.link/GSiSY