In the 1920s, Gordon West and his wife decided they wanted to go somewhere unexplored and unspoiled, right off the beaten tourist route. They settled on the little-known island of Majorca.
Travelling via Paris and Barcelona, they finally boarded the small white steamboat which was to take them to the idyllic Bay of Palma, and there they began their exploration of the enchanting island, sometimes in hair-raising motor rides round steep cliffs and on unmade roads, sometimes by mule, and more often on foot. They lodged in simple hotels, small houses, and once in a monastery, and everywhere they observed the rich pageantry of a people whose customs, gentle manners, and generous hospitality made Majorca a unique and fascinating place.