The Pillars of Hercules
Описание
Paul Theroux's 'The Pillars of Hercules' is a vibrant exploration of Europe, offering readers a unique perspective on the continent's rich tapestry of cultures and histories. Through vivid descriptions of diverse locales, encounters with fascinating characters, and insightful observations on human nature, Theroux crafts a compelling narrative that transcends the typical travelogue. He delves into the daily lives of people across various social strata, from luxury cruise passengers to impoverished individuals. This book is more than just a travelogue; it's a profound reflection on the human experience, offering a deep understanding of the world's diverse cultures and histories. Theroux's keen wit and descriptive gifts are on full display, capturing the sights, sounds, and smells of each location with remarkable detail.
Table of Contents
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Map
Contents
Epigraph
1. The Cable Car to the Rock of Gibraltar
2. The “Mare Nostrum” Express to Alicante
3. The M.V. Punta Europa to Mallorca
4. The “Virgen De Guadalupe” Express to Barcelona and Beyond
5. “Le Grand Sud” to Nice
6. The Ferry ÎLe De Beauté to Corsica
7. The Ferry Ichnusa to Sardinia
8. The Ferry Torres to Sicily
9. The Ferry Villa to Calabria
10. The Ferry Clodia from Chioggia
11. The Ferry Liburnija to Zadar
12. The Ferry Venezia to Albania
13. The Seabourn Spirit to Istanbul
14. The M.V. Akdeniz: Through the Levant
15. The 7:20 Express to Latakia
16. The Ferry Sea Harmony to Greece
17. The Ferry El Loud III to Kerkennah
18. To Morocco on the Ferry Boughaz
About the Author
“THEROUX, WHEREVER HE IS,
IS ALWAYS WORTH READING.”
“[Theroux’s] observations come in hilarious quips and thought-provoking bolts…. Disdaining museums, ruins and ‘famous graves,’ he seeks out human encounters, from rich retirees on a luxury cruise to ragged beggars in Albania, from intellectual writers such as Naguib Mahfouz and Paul Bowles to the punks of Cagliari.”
“Vivid … Theroux flourishes in the gritty texture of daily life in all these ports, where he eats the food, sleeps in the hotels, eats in the low-rent cafes that most locals do—and, like them, seeks the water.”
“Powerful … A nimble, multilayered armchair journey, bristling with sights, sounds, smells, anecdotes, brief encounters, snippets of erudition, reading suggestions, impromptu decisions, moments of danger, bursts of indignation, sudden ecstasies … Theroux’s keen wit and descriptive gifts are in peak form.”
“Travel writing at its eccentric best—a mix of irony, adventure lucidity, and cross-grained crankiness.”
“In the best tradition of the 19th-century Grand Tour, Theroux’s travels provide an unsentimental education in history and human nature, drawn not from museums and monuments but from a varied, and occasionally surprising, landscape peopled with an array of memorable characters. Certainly there is lots of meaty material to work with: centuries of art and architecture, classical myths and contemporary writers, the constant movement of emigrants, refugees, and travelers. And Theroux rises wonderfully to the occasion.”
“A beautiful adventure.”
(starred review)
By the Same Author
FICTION
CRITICISM
NONFICTION
A Fawcett Book
Published by The Random House Publishing Group
Copyright © 1995 by Cape Cod Scriveners Company
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and distributed in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.
Excerpt from “At Algeciras—A Meditation upon Death,” from
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