A sumptuous visual feast of society holidaying when foreign travel was the preserve of only the elite

In the nineteenth century, the phenomenon of 'going abroad' was born. Beautiful Mediterranean towns, the luxurious spas of Mittel-Europe and the golf courses of France became the playground of the idle wealthy. Until foreign travel became more accessible, the picturesque towns and smart hotels catered only to an elite mix of royalty, celebrities and high society. This was where the great and glamorous could relax, mingle, see and be seen – where rules could be broken and routines forgotten. Drawing on the Mary Evans Picture Library's archives and contributions from Galleria L’IMAGE, Lucinda Gosling traces the growth of some of Europe’s most exclusive and desirable holiday destinations – from Monte Carlo and Maidenhead, to Biarritz and St Moritz – and explores the lives of the privileged holidaymakers who travelled there. Revealing a world of gossip and glamour, Holidays and High Society tells the story of travel in a golden age through its fashions, faces and places, using evocative vintage travel posters, brochures, fashion spreads and more. The ultimate form of escapism for anyone with a passion for the past.