A MASTERPIECE CALLED BELGIUM

Arthur B. Frommer ( July 17th, 1929 ) was born in Jefferson City ( Missouri, United States ). His family moved to Brooklyn, New York City ( New York, United States ), when he was 14 years old. 

In 1950, he graduated from New York University with a Political Science Degree. Three years later, he graduated with honours from Yale Law School ( New Haven, Connecticut, United States ), where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Arthur Frommer was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War ( 1950 - 1953 ). Rather than being sent to Korea, he was sent to Europe because of his linguistic abilities. In 1955, while serving in Germany, Arthur Frommer wrote and self - published a guidebook called The G.I.'s Guide to Traveling In Europe. It sold out its first print run. 

In 1957, he followed up with a civilian version called Europe on 5 Dollars a Day, which covered major European urban destinations. It also sold out its first run of 5,000 copies. In 1962, Arthur Frommer founded tour operator $5 - a - Day Tours, Inc. He left the practice of law in 1962 to pursue his travel business, Arthur Frommer International, Inc. ( of which he was Chairman and President until 1981 ). In 1969, he built a hotel in Amsterdam ( North Holland, Netherlands ), now known as the Hotel Mercure Amsterdam Arthur Frommer, and part of the Accor group. 

Arthur Frommer sold the travel guide book business to Simon & Schuster in 1977. It changed hands a few times ( later acquired by John Wiley & Sons, with Arthur Frommer remaining involved as a consultant ). In 2012, Google paid about $23 million for the brand, saying that it would incorporate the Frommer’s content from its books, mobile apps and Web site into local reviews. A year later, it sold the brand back to Arthur Frommer for an undisclosed price. 

By the end of 2014, Arthur Frommer expected to release as many as 80 books. He and his  daughter, Pauline ( from his first marriage ), became Co - Presidents of the company : FrommerMedia LLC. 

( sources : Wikipedia, www.nytimes.com )