In an era when smartphones put the world at our fingertips, traditional travel guides like Lonely Planet have lost much of their allure. Why thumb through a book when AI or a quick Google search can answer your every logistical question? Yet, as convenient as digital tools are, they rarely linger on the nuances that make a place unforgettable.
Books that dive into a country’s culture, history, or even its role as a setting for great fiction can offer insights that no app can replicate. Switzerland, with its fascinating mix of tradition and modernity, is a place best appreciated not just by seeing but by understanding. Books help us get to those qualities of place that are harder to pin down. With this in mind, let’s explore a handful of books that enrich our experience of Switzerland.
And if you’ll be visiting Lucerne during your stay in Switzerland, please browse our Lucerne Day Tours and Experiences.
Exploring Switzerland with Diccon Bewes
When it comes to making Switzerland both accessible and engaging, Diccon Bewes stands out. As a British expat who has called Switzerland home for many years, Bewes blends sharp humor with keen observations, all while showcasing his deep love for his adopted homeland. His books avoid the usual clichés, providing readers with a nuanced insight into Swiss culture that never fails to surprise you. Even those well acquainted with Switzerland will find much to enjoy in his writing.
Swiss Watching
This bestselling guide is part cultural exploration, part affectionate critique. Bewes takes readers beyond the postcard-perfect landscapes to uncover what truly makes Switzerland tick. From the Swiss obsession with punctuality to the country’s famed neutrality, Swiss Watching is a humorous and enlightening read for anyone curious about what lies behind Switzerland’s polished exterior.
Slow Train to Switzerland
In this engaging 2013 travelogue, Bewes retraces the steps of one of the first British tour groups to visit Switzerland, following an itinerary set out by Thomas Cook in 1863. Along the way, he paints a vivid picture of how tourism transformed both Switzerland and the travelers themselves.
Around Switzerland in 80 Maps
A visually stunning exploration of Switzerland through cartography, this book offers a fresh perspective on the country’s identity. Each map tells its own story, from medieval trade routes to modern transport networks. Bewes’s commentary breathes life into these historical artifacts, revealing the evolution of Switzerland over the centuries while sharing enough of his own likable personality to ever let the book feel dry or didactic.
Swisscellany
This one is for lovers of trivia. Swisscellany is packed with fascinating facts, quirky details, and surprising insights. It’s the perfect companion for anyone wanting to dip into the story of Switzerland while enjoying a scenic train journey or boat trip on the lake.
Superb Fiction Set in Switzerland
Switzerland’s stunning landscapes and air of mystery have made it a captivating setting for remarkable works of fiction. From espionage to existential philosophy, these books provide a glimpse of Switzerland through a literary lens.
The Night Manager by John le Carré
John le Carré’s masterful espionage thriller uses Switzerland as one of its key backdrops, with scenes set in the luxury hotels and discreet banking world of the Swiss Alps. The story follows Jonathan Pine, a hotel manager turned spy, as he becomes entangled in a dangerous operation to take down an arms dealer.
Switzerland’s beautiful environment, contrasted with the shadowy dealings of its characters, heightens the tension and underscores the novel’s themes of duplicity and moral ambiguity. It’s a gripping tale where the serene setting only serves to amplify the danger lurking beneath the surface.
The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain is a literary journey into the human condition set against the ethereal beauty of the Swiss Alps. One of the greatest works of the 20th century, this novel guaranteed Mann’s place in literary history and helped to win him the 1929 Nobel Prize for Literature.
The novel follows Hans Castorp, a young man who visits a sanatorium in Davos, intending to stay for three weeks but remaining for years. The high-altitude setting becomes a metaphorical space where time seems to stretch, and characters grapple with ideas of health, mortality, and progress. Mann’s philosophical exploration is deeply tied to the mountains, which mirror the isolation and introspection at the heart of the story.
This is a challenging, evocative, and deeply original work – there’s nothing else like it in European literature.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Although Frankenstein is primarily known as a gothic tale of scientific ambition and its consequences, its connection to Switzerland is vital. Mary Shelley sets pivotal moments in the dramatic Alpine landscapes, from Geneva, where Victor Frankenstein grows up, to the stunning Mont Blanc massif, where he confronts his tragic creation.
The awe-inspiring natural scenery heightens the novel’s exploration of human ambition and hubris, as the towering mountains and vast glaciers serve as both a refuge and a reminder of nature’s power. Shelley’s vivid descriptions of the Swiss countryside bring a haunting beauty to this timeless story.
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Hotel du Lac is an exquisitely crafted exploration of solitude, self-discovery, and the pitfalls of human friendships. The story revolves around Edith Hope, a romance novelist who escapes to a secluded Swiss hotel in the wake of a personal crisis. Brookner’s restrained yet elegant prose beautifully mirrors the serenity of the setting, with the still lake embodying Edith’s inward journey. Though the landscape may not boast the grandeur of the Alps, its understated beauty aligns seamlessly with the novel’s themes of introspection and quiet emotional renewal.
We hope we’ve helped to add one or two books to your vacation TBR list! Enjoy some quality reading before or during your visit and make a meaningful connection with Switzerland. If you will be traveling in Lucerne, please join us on a Lucerne Day Tour.
