Around the World in 80 Trains

A 45,000-Mile Adventure

By: Monisha Rajesh

Narrated by: Monisha Rajesh

Bloomsbury presents Around the World in 80 Trains written and read by Monisha Rajesh.

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER AWARD FOR BEST TRAVEL BOOK
SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD


'Monisha Rajesh has chosen one of the best ways of seeing the world. Never too fast, never too slow, her journey does what trains do best. Getting to the heart of things. Prepare for a very fine ride' Michael Palin

From the cloud-skimming heights of Tibet’s Qinghai railway to silk-sheeted splendour on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Around the World in 80 Trains is a celebration of the glory of train travel and a witty and irreverent look at the world.

Packing up her rucksack – and her fiancé, Jem – Monisha Rajesh embarks on an unforgettable adventure that takes her from London’s St Pancras station to the vast expanses of Russia and Mongolia, North Korea, Canada, Kazakhstan, and beyond. The journey is one of constant movement and mayhem, as the pair strike up friendships and swap stories with the hilarious, irksome and ultimately endearing travellers they meet on board, all while taking in some of the earth’s most breathtaking views.©2019 Monisha Rajesh (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Critic reviews

What makes the book is [Rajesh's] wit, astute observations and willingness to try everything ... She arrived at St Pancras, on time, tired and triumphant. Her riveting account of the odyssey leaves us feeling the same

As Monisha Rajesh triumphantly demonstrates in Around the World in 80 Trains, there’s life yet in both the trip and the telling

Delightful ... Rajesh is not only blessed with an elegant style, but is witty and ever ready for a bit of self-deprecation

Monisha Rajesh has chosen one of the best ways of seeing the world. Never too fast, never too slow, her journey does what trains do best. Getting to the heart of things. Prepare for a very fine ride (Michael Palin)

Rajesh [is] a rare rising star of the genre … She has a simple and easy style, she sees everything and listens to everyone, she’s funny when she wants to be and serious when she needs to be, and she keeps the whole thing barrelling along like a wonderful dinner party conversation (Marcus Berkmann)

A relentlessly curious and wonderfully descriptive writer … [Rajesh] offers us a never-ending series of Theroux-esque, quirky anecdotes … Remarkably engaging … If you fancy learning about global travel in the relative slow lane, try boarding this carriage and staring out the window – here you can view the world through Rajesh’s eyes, as she takes us on a lazy, time-bending meander in search of authenticity and humanity

An epic journey … When I say that I felt almost physically tired at the end of this book, I mean it as a compliment, a testament to its vivid evocations (Country Life)

A triumph: a rollicking account, full of memorable encounters and laced with wit … Rajesh is an elegant stylist with a winning line in self-depreciation; hers is a delightful book

This is travel-writing entirely at home in the 21st century, penned by a travel writer entirely comfortable in her own skin, and unashamedly enthused by the thrill of setting out to meet new people and to see new places

A wonderfully wry and witty debut. Crackles and sparks with life like an exploding box of Diwali fireworks

Rajesh's quick-fire writing is unflinchingly frank, with details packed in as tightly as passengers on Mumbai's commuter trains. A lively read

A great big lovely shambling train ride of a book, offering wonderful views, hilarious interludes, all sorts of dodgy characters and some very peculiar smells, all for the one ticket

An ode to locomotive travel, it is bound with heart-warming human encounters, chaos, and awe-inspiring views

shallow and breezy

a nice palate cleanser of a book recounts her train journey around the global north.

Good story ruined byruined byA British poshness…

Relatively unique and interesting story, but the authors poshness, and the way she turns her nose up to so many different things was a turn off. She’s definitely a train aficionado which I am not, and the detail and celebration of each train gets lost for me.

Absolute love

I heard the author on a podcast. Her voice was so calming yet intriguing and if it’s a book about global travel, I’m hooked. This book did not disappoint and highly recommend to inspire your next journey!

evocative

I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. While I lack the courage to try anything so adventurous, the story has inspired me to fulfill a few less.ambitious train travel dreams. Thank you.

Fun for lovers of travel in general

Very fun for lovers of travel in general and of train travel in particular. Some great local color through a series of interesting locations. I am disappointed she didn't do her original route through Uzbekistan and more of Eastern Europe, but happy Kazakhstan made the cut. I'm always suspicious when an author reads their own work as too often it's not a great fit. But she does a good job, even when I suspect she's mocking some American accents. It's ok. We can take it. Small complaint: I know the whole bit complaining about tipping in America was sort of in jest, but given the wages most wait staff make here, please don't begrudge even the surliest of them the tip box.