Paul theroux books list of books by author paul theroux. Therouxs program 1979 in an interview, theroux talks about plans for upcoming books. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Paul therouxs new book ranges from literature to landscapes. My favourite travel book, by the worlds greatest travel writers paul theroux, william dalrymple, kari herbert, colin thubron and many more writers tell us about the travel book that most. Novelist and travel writer paul theroux is the author of dozens of. Travel writing doesnt need any more voices like paul. Paul theroux, grand doyen of american travel writing, is determined to be a bulkhead. Reading a small bio on theroux i learned about one of his favorite books, ali and nino.
Jun 01, 2018 figures in a landscape people and places, essays. Paul theroux joins critics on first edition 1984 writing about his appearence on the tv book show first edition, michiko kakutani says that theroux is as poised in person as he is in print. It begins as a search for a vanished lebanese imam. May 14, 20 paul therouxs favorite innerjourney travel books.
His next book of travel, the old patagonian express 1979, was also by rail, this one the length. If there were an alist of living american travel writers, paul therouxs name would be at the top. Oct 25, 2015 a more naunced question will likely elicit more constructive responses. Mexico border stretches 1,954 miles from the pacific ocean to the gulf of mexico and has 330 points of entry for renowned travel writer paul theroux, each border crosser also has a. The bestknown travel writer at work today, theroux burst on the scene with the 1975 publication of the great railway bazaar, which chronicled his fourmonth train crossing of asia.
Paul theroux has been charming readersand rooting out surprising adventures in farflung placesfor more than half a century. What do you consider the greatest travel books ever written. Paul theroux is the godfather of contemporary travel writing, known for his. Paul theroux, one of the worlds most popular authors, both for his travel books and his fiction, has produced an offbeat story of 1960s weirdos unlike anything he has ever written. On display is paul therouxs superbly enjoyable prose and his keen but wry sense of observation. Unfortunately, i have never read a paul theroux book, at least until now.
Paul edward theroux born april 10, 1941 is an american travel writer and novelist, whose bestknown work is the great railway bazaar 1975. The authorwhose latest novel we recently excerptedgave his top picks, plus explanations, to the browsers alec ash. Paul theroux s acclaimed novels include blinding light, hotel honolulu, my other life, kowloon tong, and the mosquito coast. Paul therouxs favourite travel books 28 books goodreads. The cherrygarrard and naipaul titles are both on our list of the 100 most celebrated travel books of all time along with four of therouxs own booksill confess id never heard of the other three. Theroux s new book ghost train to the eastern star retraces the route he took in 1973 for the great railway bazaar, the first of his travel books and a modern classic.
Paul therouxs literary travel volume cites passages from his favorite authors. It is an epic journey following him from his irish, catholic upbringing in boston to his years in africa and then in london. Known for his fondness for train travel, lovehate relationship. The best travel writing is about the voyage into the space within. Apr 17, 2014 paul theroux has been charming readersand rooting out surprising adventures in farflung placesfor more than half a century. Novelist and travel writer paul theroux is the author of dozens of books, including the mosquito coast and the great railway bazaar. Great railway bazaar is a classic, but i always loved riding the iron rooster, having had a lot of china travel experiences. We asked the legendary travel writer to talk about five books in his life and he chose some companions for the road. Therouxs new book ghost train to the eastern star retraces the route he took in 1973 for the great railway bazaar, the first of his travel books and a modern classic.
This is a compilation of the travel books that paul theroux has recommended in the media. Paul theroux, the indiana jones of american literature, on sex, writing and his famous son louis. Here we take a look at 31 of his wisest and funniest quotes about. Paul theroux s highly acclaimed novels include blinding light, hotel honolulu, my other life, kowloon tong, and the mosquito coast. Mar 22, 2020 years later i became a fan of paul therouxs travel writing.
For his dedication and his eloquence, paul theroux put him on my. Sep 11, 2015 travel writing doesnt need any more voices like paul therouxs. Paul theroux is a travel writer and novelist whose best known work, the great railway bazaar, is a travelogue about a train trip from britain through europe, the middle east, south asia, and then. Paul therouxs brother also wrote a great travel book, but his is a slow burner, not a whirlwind tour. Over the course of nearly five decades, theroux has written some 45 works of fiction and nonfiction. On display is paul theroux s superbly enjoyable prose and his keen but wry sense of observation. I met paul theroux in the foyer of his london hotel. Esteemed travel writer paul therouxs favorite things. He was in town to promote his new book, last train to zona verde. The best travel books five books expert recommendations. He was awarded the 1981 james tait black memorial prize for his novel the mosquito coast, which was adapted for the 1986 movie of the same name. Theroux s brand of travel writing is not of the soggy a funny.
The tao of travel is a book to be plundered and raided. Jun 14, 2018 paul theroux is the godfather of contemporary travel writing, known for his transporting, firstperson classics such as ghost train to the eastern star, deep south, the tao of travel and dark star. Travel writing doesnt need any more voices like paul therouxs. Mar, 2020 so if you cant travel, you might as well delve into a classic travel account that can virtually take you there. Joining that heady company is paul theroux, american but resident in england long enough to qualify as britishish. During the time of lyndon johnson s presidency, herbie gneiss is. Travel books to read when you cant travel travels with talek. We later polled traveler editors on their alltime favorite travel books, too. Before getting into his book picks, theroux also shared his thoughts on what drives people to read about travel. Since i was a child, i have used books to visit worlds far from my own sheltered life. His renowned travel books include ghost train to the eastern star, dark star safari, and the great railway bazaar. Paul therouxs new collection of essays, figures in a landscape. Years later i became a fan of paul therouxs travel writing.
As a potential responder, i wonder if you have read any of his books. In a sense, as a writer you are doing the travel for the reader. May 08, 2018 paul therouxs new collection of essays, figures in a landscape. Some travel books are less about travelthat is a specific itinerary and perambulationthan about an.
The best travel books for when youre stuck at home cnn travel. Travel is a leap in the dark, says paul theroux and one that will leave you a different person at the other end. Theres a conventional question when it comes to the travel writer paul theroux. There truly is a section on every country, making this a book that curious readers will come back to again and again. The great railway bazaar, riding the iron rooster, the old patagonian express and his most recent, dark star safari. I think people read travel books either because they intend to take that trip, or because they would never take that trip. Jun 09, 2003 paul theroux, the indiana jones of american literature, on sex, writing and his famous son louis. Its therouxs remarkable gift for getting strangers to reveal themselves that makes going along for this ride worthwhile. Paul therouxs travel classic about an epic journey by rail through india and asia. He has published numerous works of fiction, some of which were adapted as feature films.
Paul therouxs acclaimed novels include blinding light, hotel honolulu, my other life, kowloon tong, and the mosquito coast. Whats one of your favourite qualities about africa. The book is based on therouxs life and youre not sure how much of it is his personal history and how much of it is fiction. Paul theroux is the godfather of contemporary travel writing, known for his transporting, firstperson classics such as ghost train to the eastern. May 12, 2011 joining that heady company is paul theroux, american but resident in england long enough to qualify as britishish. Jan 08, 2020 paul theroux s brother also wrote a great travel book, but his is a slow burner, not a whirlwind tour. When i was very young 10 or 11 i read travel books by richard halliburton, the royal. My favourite travel book, by the worlds greatest travel. I could have chosen any of paul therouxs books, fiction or nonfiction, having read them all, and liked almost all of them. It begins as a search for a vanished lebanese imam but focuses more on understanding saudi. Zona definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Paul therouxs highly acclaimed novels include blinding light, hotel honolulu, my other life, kowloon tong, and the mosquito coast. Therouxs brand of travel writing is not of the soggy a funny.
How i write travel books the worlds greatest living travel writer reveals how he fell into writing travel narratives and what he loves about the genre i met paul theroux in the foyer of his london hotel. This is one of those books that explain everything in this case, the way. Since his seminal the great railway bazaar 1975,theroux has written and edited 15 travel books, resulting in him being referred to as a. The celebrated travel writer, paul theroux, has been given the edward stanford outstanding contribution to travel writing award.
One or two arent travel related but still recommended by theroux. Books by paul theroux author of the great railway bazaar. Deep south therouxs eye for landscape remains as sharp as ever. The 87 greatest travel books of all time, according to authors. Paul edward theroux born april 10, 1941 is an american travel writer and novelist, whose best known work is the great railway bazaar 1975. Apsley cherrygarrards antarctic memoir, the worst journey in the world. Since his seminal the great railway bazaar 1975, theroux has written and edited 15 travel books, resulting in him being referred to as a. However on his adventurous quest, he finds himself instead. First published more than thirty years ago, paul theroux s strange, unique, and hugely entertaining railway odyssey has become a modern classic of travel literature. During the time of lyndon johnsons presidency, herbie gneiss is. Jun 05, 2011 paul therouxs literary travel volume cites passages from his favorite authors. He recommends five travel books that inspired him, from mark twain at sea to vs naipaul in india. A book about friedrich nietzsche, marksmanship, dreams of mexico, and the late anthony bourdain. I even find many travel shows on television boring.
Paul theroux, one of the world s most popular authors, both for his travel books and his fiction, has produced an offbeat story of 1960s weirdos unlike anything he has ever written. Paul theroux has written both fiction and nonfiction books. Esteemed travel writer paul therouxs favorite things paul theroux, a novelist and one of americas most prolific travel writers, recently spent over a year making forays into. Paul theroux, a novelist and one of americas most prolific travel writers, recently spent over a year making forays. He revitalized the travel writing genre with his 1975 book the great railway bazaar, and since.
The alchemist is an international best seller that tells the mystical story of santiago, an andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of treasure. Throughout a lifetime of reading, travel writer and novelist paul theroux seems to have marked up his books with. Paul theroux, william dalrymple, kari herbert, colin thubron and many more writers tell us about the travel book that most influenced their. A more naunced question will likely elicit more constructive responses. The 87 greatest travel books of all time, according to. Paul theroux changing publishers after 20 years 1985.
May 01, 2011 the tao of travel samples centuries of travel books, including unique captures of persons, places, times, and more than a few instances of fiction. The tao of travel samples centuries of travel books, including unique captures of persons, places, times, and more than a few instances of fiction. Paul theroux, grand doyen of american travel writing, is determined to. The worlds leading publisher of travel guides, lonely planet, has published a number of general travel books, and our favorite is the travel book. His renowned travel books include ghost train to the eastern star, dark star safari, riding the iron rooster, the great railway bazaar, the old patagonian express, and the happy isles of oceania. This is my favorite book written by paul theroux, one of the finest novelists of our time.
Theroux s program 1979 in an interview, theroux talks about plans for upcoming books. So if you cant travel, you might as well delve into a classic travel account that can virtually take you there. The best travel books, as recommended by travelwriter paul theroux. Houghton mifflin harcourt last month, author paul theroux published his latest book the tao of travel. How i write travel books the worlds greatest living travel writer reveals how he fell into writing travel narratives and what he loves about the genre. My favourite travel book, by the worlds greatest travel writers travel.