THE GREAT RAILWAY BAZAAR by Paul Theroux

THE GREAT RAILWAY BAZAAR by Paul Theroux, written in 1975, has become a classic in travel writing. Theroux spent months journeying by train from Great Britain, through Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Japan, and then back to Britain via areas of Russia, including Siberia.

While traveling through many Third World countries, he experienced railway travel at its worst. Theroux mingled with "average" people and managed to communicate well with his fellow travelers. This is the sort of book that one wishes would go on and on.

Happily for those who enjoyed his first book, Theroux retraced his steps years later and wrote about his second journey in GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR. That book was published in 2008.

Read THE GREAT RAILWAY BAZAAR first and then seek out his second travelogue. You'll enjoy these armchair travel trips.