Born in 1875 into a wealthy and prominent Boston family, Adelaide Pearson never married and found her calling in social causes, and in extensive travel.  She regularly documented her travels in journals adding photography and later, cinematography.  This delightful tale of a trip by donkey in Italy in 1912 will charm everyone interested in a good adventure and interested in history.    This material seems to have been assembled for a private audience as it was never published, but her original typescript text and accompanying photographs has been reproduced in this book along with an introduction and biographical notes.  Howevr, she also used material from her estensive travels to write children's stories, including one, the Laughing Lion that was published a few years later.  This book includes additional information on Pearson's life.

In 1934, when she was almost 60, she established the Rowantrees Pottery at the summer home she inherited from her maternal grandfather in Blue Hill, Maine.  The pottery became a Blue Hill and Maine landmark attracting visitors from around the world until it ceased production in 2009.