The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia
342
Book • Nonfiction
•
Action & Adventure•
Indian LiteratureAsia • 1970s
2006
Adult
18+ years
In The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia, Paul Theroux chronicles his four-month journey across Asia by rail. The narrative captures diverse landscapes, cultures, and people encountered on trains, offering readers a vivid, firsthand travel experience.
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Paul Theroux's The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia is celebrated for its vivid storytelling, rich descriptions, and keen insights into the cultures and landscapes of Asia. Critics laud Theroux's ability to capture the essence of travel, though some note a lingering sense of Western bias and occasional condescension. Overall, it's a compelling read for travel enthusiasts.
A reader who enjoys The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia by Paul Theroux is likely an avid traveler, fascinated by train journeys, and appreciates immersive travel writing. Fans of Bruce Chatwin's In Patagonia or Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods will find similar enjoyment in Theroux’s detailed and colorful narratives.
21,818 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Paul Theroux embarked on the journey that inspired The Great Railway Bazaar in 1973, covering 25,000 miles across Asia over several months, starting in London and looping through countries including Iran, India, and Japan.
The book is considered one of the pioneering works in the travel literature genre, establishing Theroux's reputation as a masterful travel writer with its vivid descriptions and insightful observations.
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The book was so influential that Theroux retraced his original journey and published a sequel called Ghost Train to the Eastern Star in 2008, providing reflections on the changes observed over three decades.
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342
Book • Nonfiction
•
Action & Adventure•
Indian LiteratureAsia • 1970s
2006
Adult
18+ years
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