Top ten travel books
Jim Millward May 9th, 2008
It’s Friday, it’s 5 o’clock and time for some inane ramblings. In High Fidelity style here’s a top ten of travel books. Obviously a completely subjective and personal list borne out of all sorts of prejudices and complete lack of literary nous. Steered clear of mountaineering books and news books (which therefore excludes the likes of John Simpson’s books). Some authors would have several entries but I’ve applied the one book rule. One variable is how recently I read them, if it was years ago then less likely to make an appearance unless it made a stunning impression, enough rambling, here goes:
- Congo Journey - Redmond O’Hanlon (Could have picked any of his books, but will restrict choice to one.)
- A short walk in Hindu Kush - Eric Newby
- In Siberia - Colin Thubron
- Under a sickle moon: travels in Afghanistan - Peregrine Hodson
- A Reed Shaken by the Wind: Travels Among the Marsh Arabs of Iraq - Gavin Maxwell (Arguably better than Wilfred Thesiger’s own writings from this part of the world)
- Zanzibar Chest - Aidan Hartley (pushing the limits to be classified but a great read)
- Dark Star Safari - Paul Theroux (had to be one)
- Mirrors of the Unseen: Journeys in Iran - Jason Elliot
- One foot in Laos - Dervla Murphy (but take you pick from any)
- A book about Papua New Guinea that was published by Lonely Planet. Can’t remeber the name of the book or author but it was good! If anyone ever reads this and thinks of the name. Thanks: It’s ‘Islands in the Clouds’ by Isabella Tree about Highlands of Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya.
- Grains of Sand - Martin Buckley (know that’s 11 but just remembered this one about deserts)
- In Patagonia - Bruce Chatwin
Stopping now as thinking of others.
Worst book: ‘Reality was a bug that bit me in the Galapagos’ - garbage
- General
- Comments(0)