Twain takes aim at the sacred cows of European tourism in this sharper, more sardonic travelogue. Written with the eyes of a man who has seen too much of the world to be awed by it anymore, A Tramp Abroad finds the great humorist in a uniquely cynical mood. Accompanying his long-suffering companion Harris (a marvel of grumpy obstructionism), Twain traverses the Swiss Alps, marveling at glaciers and church bells while cataloging the absurdities of fellow tourists and the strange customs of foreign lands. Harris, never one to let a majestic vista go uncriticized, finds fault with even the most breathtaking Alpine scenery, providing a perfect comedic foil to Twain's more philosophical musings. The book remains a brilliant sendup of travel culture and the pretensions of the Grand Tour, proving that seeing the world is no guarantee of wisdom or good humor.
