Former Punk Paul Theroux in India
Travel Blog • Jim Benning • 02.19.08 | 2:40 PM ET
Perhaps the most anticipated travel book this year—or at least the one I’m most looking forward to—is Paul Theroux’s Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, due out in September. It’s an account of his journey through Europe and Asia, retracing the route he followed in the 1975 classic, The Great Railway Bazaar. He’s been talking it up recently in India, popping up in press accounts here (on “human architecture”), here (on beekeeping and whether he’s “a hack”) and here (on India’s soul).
He told an audience in Chennai, speaking about “Great Railway,” “I was a punk back then.” But on his recent trip, “I had changed,” he said. “I was older, I won’t say wiser but I had lived longer, and I was able to sit and judge.”
Related on World Hum:
* No. 3: ‘The Great Railway Bazaar’ by Paul Theroux
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Jim Benning is the editor and co-founder of World Hum.
John M. Edwards 02.19.08 | 6:05 PM ET
Hi Jim:
Perhaps because my father gave Paul Theroux a good book review when “Mosquito Coast” came out, which contains the classic line “Ice is civilization!” I somehow bumped into the randy roamer in a hostel in Hawaii. Nobody else had a clue who he was, and I didn’t want to blow his cover.
He looked quite a bit like his author’s photo on the flap of his expensive hardcovers, with a grim superior smile and an enforced faroff look in his eyes behind the Clark Kentish shaded lenses.
Anyway retracing one’s own journey is a risky proposition. But face it, if we like a place we’re often repeat performance artists. I’ve been to Bangkok, at least five times, as well as London, and Prague, and oddly, the sleepy colonial Twilight Zone town of Westfield, New Jersey.
In fact, in their local tavern, I met Mr. E.S.B Fuller, an intimidating world traveler in a G.B. coat, English cap, and Christmas Carol beard. After plunking down Jackson after Jackson for several bottles of frothy full-bodied “London Pride,” he told me a story I will never forget. . . .
Which was: MOVE, my speculative novel thaqt has not quite been released to the public, with a vague film option and a warehouse full of review copies thrown into the bargain. Move over Monsieur Mephistopheles. My bargain is with the other guy.
justin 02.19.08 | 8:40 PM ET
Wow, this is the first I’ve heard of this. Really looking forward to it!
Eva Holland 02.19.08 | 9:20 PM ET
Sounds like a good excuse for a re-read of The Great Railway Bazaar! (Like I need one…)
Jim Benning 02.20.08 | 12:37 PM ET
Yeah, I think it’s a great excuse to re-read The Great Railway Bazaar. I will be.
Geir 02.21.08 | 5:43 AM ET
To tell the truth, I was more hoping for a “Cold World” journey as rumored, since I live close to the Arctic and would love to see Theroux’s comprehension of Scandinavia and the northern countries. It would have given me an understanding of his writing mirroring it with the reality I live in. I had that experience with Dark Star Safari, where he travelled the same places I have lived and travelled, and it just became a different read to any of his other travel books.
This said, I am curious about his retravelling The Great Railway Bazaar. Some parts would be “untravelable”, so how did he do it? The old Sovjet countries on the northern fringe of the Kushes?
Punk rock 05.10.08 | 7:20 AM ET
Ah interesting I have read The Great Railway Bazaar. I luvd it, I think I will read this book (I know its old by now, but I didnt find this until now), on my vacation to Greece this summer! We are going by train so the title sort of fits perfect! :)