Road Fortune by Diack & Mackenzie 1935 First Published Illustrated
 
Bibliographic Details
Road Fortune: An Account of A Cycling Journey through Europe by Hunter Diack and R. F. Mackenzie.
London: Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1935.
Printed in Great Britain by R. & R. Clark, Limited, Edinburgh.
Octavo, vii + 319 pages, illustrated with photographic plates and a folding map.
Includes original dust jacket.
The title page is dated 1935 and the copyright page states “Copyright”. The work was first published in 1935. The present copy appears consistent with the original 1935 publication, although the wording on the copyright page alone does not conclusively establish the impression, so it is not described here as a definitively verified first edition.
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
An engaging interwar cycling travel account, Road Fortune records the remarkable European journey undertaken by two young Scotsmen who travelled by bicycle and tent from London through France, Italy, Albania, Yugoslavia, Austria and Germany.
The journey took place in 1932, at a particularly revealing moment in European history. The resulting narrative combines travel writing, social observation and encounters with people encountered along the roads. Of particular historical interest are the authors' observations of Fascist Italy and Germany during the years before the Second World War. A scholarly study of R. F. Mackenzie's life notes that the book was transcribed from the diaries kept during the journey and records their impressions of Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany.
The journey also included a memorable meeting with H. G. Wells at Grasse. The cyclists encountered frost and snow, travelled through the Italian and Balkan landscapes, visited Rome and Monte Cassino, and crossed into Albania and Montenegro before eventually reuniting and continuing northwards. Contemporary and later cycling bibliographies identify the book as an important English-language account of European cycling travel.
The book is particularly interesting today as both a cycling narrative and a firsthand record of travel through Europe during the politically charged 1930s.
 
About the Author
Hunter Diack (1908–1974) was a Scottish writer and traveller who accompanied R. F. Mackenzie on the 1932 European cycling journey. The two men had studied at the University of Aberdeen and undertook their tour shortly after graduating.
R. F. Mackenzie (1910–1987) later became a noted Scottish educationalist and headteacher. His later work in education made him an important figure in twentieth-century Scottish educational thought, but Road Fortune belongs to the much earlier period of his life, documenting his youthful travels across Europe.
 
About the Illustrator
The volume is illustrated with photographic plates depicting places, people and scenes encountered during the journey. 
The illustrations include views of Italy, Albania, Montenegro, Yugoslavia and Germany, adding considerable visual interest to the narrative. 
All plates are present as stated in the list of illustrations.
 
Binding & Exterior Description
Original red cloth binding over the boards and spine, with gilt lettering to the spine. The binding remains intact and robust.
There is cosmetic age and shelf wear, including substantial areas of fading and some light and small marks to the cloth. The page edges show very light foxing.
The original dust jacket is present and intact overall, with a photographic illustration to the front. It is clipped at the bottom corner of the front flap and has several rips along the spine, repaired with tape internally. There are additional edge tears, creasing, light foxing and small marks. Please refer to the photographs for a full assessment of the dust jacket.
 
Interior Condition
The pages are generally bright for their age with only light tanning. They remain neat and clean overall, with occasional very light foxing or small marks and the occasional minor fold.
There is a small area of excess paper at the bottom of page 34 and overleaf, with a corresponding small tear at the bottom of page 35 and overleaf. This appears consistent with paper, which was originally uncut and subsequently separated, and does not affect the text.
The text and illustrations remain clear and attractive.
A small “Readers Rest” sticker is present on the front pastedown.
The binding is secure and the pages are tight. There is only a very light and minimal gutter crack beside page 104.
 
Physical Details
Approximately 20.6 × 14 × 3.6 cm.
Weight approximately 633 grams.
Octavo format.
319 numbered pages, preceded by vii pages.
 
Completeness
All pages have been checked and are present.
The illustrated plates have been checked and are present, including the frontispiece and the plates depicting locations and scenes across the journey.
The folding map to illustrate Road Fortune is also present and in good condition.
 
Collector Summary
An evocative 1930s cycling journey through continental Europe, illustrated with photographic plates and retaining its original folding map and dust jacket.
Part travel narrative, part social observation and part historical snapshot, Road Fortune is particularly notable for its account of Italy and the Balkans during the interwar period and for recording the authors' encounter with H. G. Wells at Grasse.
An appealing and increasingly interesting book for collectors of cycling history, European travel, Scottish authors, interwar travel literature and books documenting Europe before the Second World War.