You've read the decade's hottest books. Now visit the locations
Tired of traditional destinations, a growing number of avid readers have been allowing their literary tastes to dictate their holidays this summer. But rather than the usual Stratford-upon-Avon tour, or marching to the Brontës' Yorkshire home, literary pilgrims are following in more modern footsteps . . .
The Eat, Pray, Love tour Fans are flocking to spots in Rome and Bali made famous by Elizabeth Gilbert's tale of her quest for happiness. Spirit Quest Tours launched its first trip – including a reading with Gilbert's Balian shaman– in 2009 and interest has been mushrooming ever since. "Bali used to be a bit of an unknown for Americans and Europeans," says founder Halle Eavelyn, "but the book and film are definitely helping. So far, we haven't had anyone meet any sexy Brazilians or fall in love, but you never know."
The Stieg Larsson tour Established in 2008 by the Stockholm City Museum in response to the phenomenal interest in Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy, the tour takes in the home of journalist Mikael Blomkvist, the luxury apartment of tattooed computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, and other locations from the books. "We arranged eight tours during 2008 and during this year we will arrange approximately 300," says Sara Claesson.
Ian Rankin's Edinburgh app Launched this month, the free app provides a personal tour of Edinburgh from the Rebus creator, taking the user to 30 of his literary locations, from Fleshmarket Close to Queensberry House, where a body is stashed in Set in Darkness. It also directs the user to both Rankin's and Rebus's favourite pub: the Oxford Bar.
The Trainspotting tour Tim Bell has been taking tourists around locations from Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting since 2002 and the requests just keep on coming. "I tell the story behind the story," says Bell. "I lived in Leith in the 1980s, and still do. I know a hell of a lot about Leith and the drug scene."
And if that's all too highbrow then perhaps Forks in Washington State might suit: the small town is regularly swamped by hundreds of Twihards – fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books – desperate for a glimpse of the vampire series' settings.