The Great Railway Bazaar
by train through Asia
by Paul Theroux · first published 1975
5mentions
1recommended by
5HN commenters
2009–2023first – last mentioned
20% recommend80% neutral
In 1973, Paul Theroux embarked on a four-month journey by train from the United Kingdom through Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In The Great Railway Bazaar, he records in vivid detail and penetrating insight the many fascinating incidents, adventures, and encounters of his grand, intercontinental tour.
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Theroux is my favorite travel writer. Easy to recommend all the books mentioned in this article, though The Great Railway Bazaar was my introduction to his way of writing about travel, and I think it's a good place to start. All his train travel books are pretty similar in format (that's a good thing). He skips any discussion…
on “Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel” ↗…funny bit is that rather than arranging this over the phone/email with a customer rep, they apparently need to discuss it over coffee with JetBlue's CEO. This is where the idea moves from Paul Theroux ("Great Railway Bazaar" etc) territory into Julia Allison land.
Writer Paul Theroux has made essentially this trip twice now, decades apart. Chronicled in his books THE GREAT RAILWAY BAZAAR and GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR.
on “The Largest Infrastructure Project in History: Chinese High-Speed Rail to Europe” ↗I think it is actually a plug for The Old Patagonian Express, which the folio society just reissued, if you'd like to buy a nicely bound book for $100. I suppose he talked about The Great Railway Bazaar because it is more seminal in his mind than the Old Patagonian Express. I also never realized Paul is the father of Louis. I often wondered if Justin was related to Louis, but never Paul for some reason.
on “Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel” ↗Interesting little article and not what I expected. Seems to be a bit of a plug for book "The Great Railway Bazaar', which to me would be an interesting read of a bygone era. Will need to see if I can find it in one of the local libraries.
on “Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel” ↗