The Great Railway Bazaar is Paul Theroux's account of his epic journey by rail through Asia. Filled with evocative names of legendary train routes - the Direct-Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Delhi Mail from Jaipur, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Hikari Super Express to Kyoto, and the Trans-Siberian Express - it describes the many places, cultures, sights, and sounds he experienced and the fascinating people he met.
Here he overhears snippets of chat and occasional monologues, and is drawn into conversation with fellow passengers, from Molesworth, a British theatrical agent, and Sadik, a shabby Turkish tycoon, while avoiding the forceful approaches of pimps and drug dealers. This wonderfully entertaining travelogue pays loving tribute to the romantic joys of railways and train travel.
©1975 Paul Theroux (P)1983 Recorded Books LLC
"Just about as good as it gets..."
It's great to have this at Audible, an amazing trip by Paul Theroux, with great narration by the late Frank Muller, he captures Theroux's attitude, mood, and "crankiness," perfectly.
Additionally, the book has what I think is the best attribute of recorded books; forward momentum. I usually listen while walking, and I think the best books help me move forward.
"A great listen for the traveller"
A great travel adventure, written at a time when crossing the globe was a much more challenging experience. Will resonate with anyone who's embarked on a voyage across cultures.
It reminded me of what I love about freeform travel
The narrator was excellent - when the accents seem natural and quietly add to the appreciation of the story, rather than being something that you notice outright, then the narrator has done their job well.
"Riviting"
I loved Theroux's frank descriptions of what he experienced and how he felt about everything.
It made me want to take the same trip--or ar at least parts of it.
Muller's tempo is just right, alternating appropriately from phrase to phrase and he speaks the various accents convincingly.
No.
jjglass
"Very slow"
The late Frank Muller is my absolute favorite reader but even he couldn't help make this story interesting. It was very slow and boring.