Paperback. Black and cream binding with title and statue on front board.

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The Unfortunate Traveller: or, the Life of Jack Wilton (originally published as The Unfortunate Traueller: or, The Life of Jacke Wilton) is a picaresque novel by Thomas Nashe first published in 1594 but set during the reign of Henry VIII of England. In this adventurous and episodic work, Nashe’s protagonist Jack Wilton navigates 16th-century Europe engaging with historical events. The story sees Jack swindle at a military camp, witness a massacre in Münster, and travels with Surrey. They meet literary figures, engage in deceit in Italy, and face various challenges. The narrative explores themes of religion, hypocrisy, and cultural differences. Jack’s journey culminates in Italy, where he faces personal and moral dilemmas, ultimately leaving the “Sodom of Italy” with his wife Diamante.

Thomas Nashe (also Nash; baptised 30 November 1567 – c. 1601) was an English Elizabethan playwright, poet, satirist and a significant pamphleteer. He is known for his novel The Unfortunate Traveller, his pamphlets including Pierce Penniless, and his numerous defences of the Church of England.