The Accidental Tourist is Anne Tyler's tenth novel, published in 1985. It tells the story of Macon Leary, an eccentric and isolated man who has recently experienced the death of his young son and a separation from his wife. Macon writes travel guides for a living in a series called The Accidental Tourist. Unlike typical travel guides that focus on exploration and adventure, these guides are aimed at business people seeking the most comfortable and easy process possible.
As indicated by the novel's title, these guide books are a metaphor for Macon himself. He is an accidental tourist in his own life, unable to find peace and make meaningful connections with others. This changes when he...
