The Unfortunate Traveller is a novel by Thomas Nashe that explores the life of Jack Wilton in England during the reign of King Henry VIII. Jack’s adventurous persona leads him to explore most of the European landscape, in search of thrill and wonder. The narrative does not flow together in unison as the author takes a more episodic approach to his storytelling.
Through his adventures around Europe, Jack spends time with a diverse range of individuals from different social backgrounds. He interacts with common English folk and great noblemen. Jack spends a fair amount of time at a military facility where he deceives his fellow soldiers and scams them of their property. He also spends some time in Germany where he bears witness to the atrocities committed by the Emperor in the name of religious purification.
Jack and Surrey arrive in Italy where they spend much of their time conning people using their deceitful and mischievous tricks to turn a profit. As soon as they arrive in Florence, Surrey is inspired to boldly express himself through words of poetry. While in Rome, Jack marvels at the design and complexity of the classical building architecture. Throughout the novel, controversial issues are addressed including rape and suicide. Jack is accused of rape and is almost executed.
While still in Italy, Jack makes it his mission to find Diamante which leads him to craft entanglements with so many other people. He eventually finds Diamante and they reunite. In Bologna, Jack and Diamante witness the public execution of a man convicted of murdering Esdras. The novel is filled with some significant executions that act as an end of suffering to characters who had brutal pasts. Jack and Diamante finally get married and settle down.
