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The Great Railway Bazaar

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The Great Railway Bazaar

By: Paul Theroux
Narrated by: Frank Muller
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About this listen

The Great Railway Bazaar is Paul Theroux's account of his epic journey by rail through Asia. Filled with evocative names of legendary train routes - the Direct-Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Delhi Mail from Jaipur, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Hikari Super Express to Kyoto, and the Trans-Siberian Express - it describes the many places, cultures, sights, and sounds he experienced and the fascinating people he met.

Here he overhears snippets of chat and occasional monologues, and is drawn into conversation with fellow passengers, from Molesworth, a British theatrical agent, and Sadik, a shabby Turkish tycoon, while avoiding the forceful approaches of pimps and drug dealers. This wonderfully entertaining travelogue pays loving tribute to the romantic joys of railways and train travel.

©1975 Paul Theroux (P)1983 Recorded Books LLC Adventure Travel Asia Travel Writing & Commentary Adventure Railroad Imperial Japan
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I didn't like sections being repeated in later chapters. There's 15 words minimum for submission.

Sections of this was repeated, I'm surprised no-one else commented on that.

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Very well written and narrated. It is a time capsule especially of SE Asia that I can compare to when I first began my Asian odyssey in 1994.

Excellent, but Lugubrious!

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I have enjoyed all Paul Theroux' other books but this one is all over the place. I will persist for a few more hours only.

So unlike Theroux

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A meandering journey full of human encounters. Facing cultures head on in a nostalgic feeling time in history.

A book of nothing and everything.

Narrator Frank Muller brings it to life.

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one of the best I've listened to so far. Frank Muller is an excellent narator and Paul an excellent writer. Highly recommend for train buffs Nd travellers alike.

GREAT LISTEN

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I first read this book 40 years ago and it's still resonates. Great narration by Frank Muller.

Great read

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This is an incredible journey. Theroux’s writing is evocative of sights, sounds, smells, savour, this is a standout that is definitely a book written in its time with views of the era. Having read it, I am truly stunned at the trip that Theroux took at a time when the world was, let’s face it 45 years younger. If you’ve never read this brilliant author, do so now. Muller’s narration is excellent; he must have picked up at least 40 voices and accents - not exactly nailing some of them - but he made this book come alive.

Absolutely Engaging

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Paul has such a beautiful way with words. He can describe locations and the journey through them in the most entrancing ways. Makes my imagination go wild. And the narrator does an incredible job. He really immerses you in the story with his various and relatively accurate accents of fellow passengers.

Such a beautiful way with words

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