Harry Alverson Franck

Born in Munger, Michigan, in 1881, Harry Alverson Franck became known as an American travel writer, photographer, and adventurer. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he set off on a long trip around the world with little money and a camera, an experience that led to his first major book, A Vagabond Journey Around the World.

Over the next several decades, he published more than 30 illustrated travel books about places including Europe, Central and South America, China, and Japan. His writing stood out for its direct, practical style and for the fact that he often traveled on foot or on a tight budget, aiming to see everyday life up close rather than from the comfort of luxury travel.

Franck also served in both world wars, and his best-known books include Zone Policeman 88 as well as his debut travel narrative. He died in 1962, leaving behind a large body of writing and photography that still offers a vivid record of how the world looked to an energetic, observant traveler in the first half of the 20th century.