Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel

Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by jmclnx on Thursday April 13, 2023 @02:57PM (#35560370)

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.

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by marssaxman on Thursday April 13, 2023 @03:39PM (#35561065)

The book is a classic; I don't think you'll regret reading it.

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by oh_sigh on Thursday April 13, 2023 @03:41PM (#35561085)

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.

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by gerikson on Thursday April 13, 2023 @03:03PM (#35560449)

I've read it, can recommend.

Also "Dark Star Express" about his rail/road travels in Africa, 30 yrs after his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer.

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by greenyoda on Thursday April 13, 2023 @03:11PM (#35560591)

I can also recommend "The Old Patagonian Express", the first of Theroux's books that I read. It's about a rail journey from Boston to southern Argentina.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Patagonian_Express

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by madsr on Thursday April 13, 2023 @03:26PM (#35560844)

Although not a travel book, "My Other Life", his fictional self-biography, was an enlightening, superb text.

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by RealityVoid on Thursday April 13, 2023 @03:34PM (#35560985)

If I read this exchange _anywhere else on the internet_ I would have thought these guys have got to be shilling for the author.

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by netsharc on Thursday April 13, 2023 @05:19PM (#35562194)

Or Library Genesis...

On Goodreads a lot of reviewers complained that the writer is so grumpy and negative towards the other passengers, but I finished it recently, and I agree it is a tale of a bygone era.

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by tayo42 on Thursday April 13, 2023 @05:50PM (#35562569)

> On Goodreads a lot of reviewers complained that the writer is so grumpy and negative towards the other passengers

I didn't read that specific book, but in his other he definitely is. Idk there seems to be a subset of people who are against showing any kind of judgement towards other people at all ever.

Some of his judgement towards others might make people uncomfortable. He can be direct with his thoughts and actions that are critical and on the negative side.

I find those thoughts interesting to read though. its just a different perspective on things from one guy.

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Re:Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel by exidy on Friday April 14, 2023 @04:23AM (#35566913)

In a similar vein I can recommend Alexander Frater's "Beyond the Blue Horizon" [1] as he retraces the original flight path of Imperial Airways from London to Brisbane.

Because it was written in the 80s, it's actually now two histories in one, first the story of Imperial airways he recounts, the second his experience travelling in the mid-80s, well before 9/11 and Covid.

[1] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/509935.Beyond_the_Blue_H...

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