Paul Theroux is an American travel writer and novelist whose work is characterized by keen observation and a distinctive style. In his books, he explores not only geographical distances but, more importantly, human nature and the cultural differences he discovers during his journeys. His writing is often ironic, witty, and full of insights that draw readers into the atmosphere of the places visited. Theroux masterfully connects personal experiences with broader social and philosophical reflections.
Exploring complex themes, this collection of short stories delves into the intricacies of human relationships and societal issues. It addresses the challenges of a failing marriage, the hidden prejudices of a troubled poet, and the late-blooming guilt experienced by a Hindu character. Each narrative is infused with keen observations and sharp wit, offering readers a captivating glimpse into diverse emotional landscapes and moral dilemmas.
In this journey, Paul Theroux embarks on an adventurous trek from Cape Town, exploring South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana before venturing into Angola and aiming for the Congo. His quest is not just geographical but also a search for deeper insights and experiences as he navigates diverse landscapes and cultures, reflecting on the complexities of the regions he traverses.
Paul Theroux has spent fifty years crossing the globe, adventuring in the exotic, seeking the rich history and folklore of the far away. Now, for the first time, in his tenth travel book, Theroux explores a piece of America - the Deep South. He finds there a paradoxical place, full of incomparable music and unparalleled cuisine, yet also some of the nation's worst schools, housing and unemployment rates. It's these parts of the South, so often ignored, that have caught Theroux's keen traveller's eye. On road trips spanning four seasons, wending along rural highways, Theroux visits gun shows and small-town churches, labourers in Arkansas, and parts of Mississippi where they still call the farm up the road 'the plantation'. He talks to mayors and social workers, writers and reverends, the working poor and farming families- the unsung heroes of the South, people who despite it all, never left, and also those who returned home to rebuild a place they could never live without. From the writer whose 'great mission has always been to transport us beyond that reading chair, to challenge himself - and thus, to challenge us' (Boston Globe),Deep Southis an ode to a region, vivid and haunting, full of life and loss alike.
A collection that ranges from sketches to critical essays. Each piece marks a new 'confrontation with the world' and throws new light on the political and social climate of diverse cultures such as those of New York, Singapore, Ireland and Malawi. It is a perspective on two decades of travelling, writing and living away from home.
Written in his distinctive and evocative style, Paul Theroux's Fresh-Air Fiend is a collection of his short travel writing from 1985 through 2000. From Hong Kong to Honolulu, through China and the USA, Theroux throws new light on both familiar territories and unknown corners of the earth.
At the gateway to the Mediterranean lie the two Pillars of Hercules: Gibraltar
and Ceuta, in Morocco. Paul Theroux decided to travel from one to the other
taking the long way round. He travels by a dilapidated taxi, smoke-filled bus,
bicycle and even a cruise-liner. This eventful tour aims to evoke the essence
of Mediterranean life.
Beginning his journey in Boston, where he boarded the subway commuter train, Paul Theroux travelled the length of North and South America, to his destination in Patagonia. In this book he vividly evokes the contrasts of his journey.
One of the world's premier travel writers launches his most exotic and tantalizing adventure yet, as he kayaks the shimmering Pacific, exploring the islands, and taking up residence to discover the secrets of these happy isles.
