Travel Book suggestions

[Stanfordian]

That would have been one of my suggestions - absolutely wonderful & filled me with a longing to go to Persia/Iran. Another book I'd suggest, that crosses both your categories, is Eric Newby's Love & war in the Apennines, detailing his role in a commando landing in Italy, subsequent capture & imprisonment by the Italian army, & escape & travel throught the mountains, helped by numerous Italians on the way, including his future wife.

If you are interested in women travellers in the late 19th & Early 20th century (or even if you're not ) I'd suggest Travels in High Albania, by Edith Durham, a remarkable woman who became greatly respected by the people of the region. It was republished by Virago in the 70's or 80's - not sure if it's still in print, but well worth looking for.

I've just received Eric Newby's Love & war in the Apennines and Bill Bryson's Neither Here Nor There with Rory Stewart's The Places in Between on order. Thanks, there are some great suggestions. More please.

[vinteuil]

Does anyone still read Norman Douglas?

I was a great fan. Siren Land, Fountains in the Sand, Old Calabria, Together, Alone - I thought they were the best.

[johncorrigan]

Just back from holiday where I read William Dalrymple's 'In search of Xanadu' in which he attempted to follow (very roughly) Marco Polo's journey from Jerusalem to Kubla Khan's palace in Xanadu. It is a great mixture of story, history, geography and theory ( there's a great story about the Magi in there). I had been along some of this road at one time and was, as usual, fed up at what I had missed ( I was a rubbish tourist) - Sultaniya in Iran, for example which sounded amazing - he's got a good turn of phrase too - eg 'While we waited for the old man to return from the mosque, the Afghans broke into a chorus of contented flatulence.' Really enjoyed it.

[kernelbogey]

....Colin Thubron's `To a Mountain in Tibet' is a wonderful book about his trekking to the sacred Mt Kailas. It ends up being a rumination on Tibetan Buddhism and the earlier Bon religion which is still current in that very remote part of Tibet.....

I endorse this recommendation and would add The snow leopard by Peter Matthiessen, which describes trekking in Nepal with George Schaller, a journey that was also an inner spiritual quest.

I also endorse all the Bill Bryson travel books.

If you haven't read The wooden horse by Eric Williams, it is a classic and the basis of The great escape movie.

[kernelbogey]

Waterlog: A Swimmer's Journey Through Britain by Roger Deakin: he describes swimming in the sea, rivers, old lidos etc across the UK. Beautifully written and entertaining.

If you like this two other titles by him (I've read only the first): Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees and Notes From Walnut Tree Farm. Sadly, the last two were published posthumously.

[kernelbogey]

I've just picked up in Oxfam, and am currently reading, McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy, for which I've been on the lookout since reading his second book, The Road to McCarthy. He was part-English, part-Irish - sadly, he died rather young - and goes in search of his roots by travelling in southern Ireland with the object of drinking in each pub he finds with the name McCarthy's. The tone is continually (but not continuously) one of sardonic or ironic humour, interlaced with wryly serious observations on some of the more appalling consequences of English rule. For example, coming across a Famine Pit, where 9,000 bodies lie, of those who died of the great potato famine. Much of it is rather like Bill Bryson, though their literary techniques differ. If any of the above appeals, I'd suggest seeking out either title.

[DracoM]

'In Siberia' / Colin Thubron

[Stanfordian]

That would have been one of my suggestions - absolutely wonderful & filled me with a longing to go to Persia/Iran. Another book I'd suggest, that crosses both your categories, is Eric Newby's Love & war in the Apennines, detailing his role in a commando landing in Italy, subsequent capture & imprisonment by the Italian army, & escape & travel throught the mountains, helped by numerous Italians on the way, including his future wife.

If you are interested in women travellers in the late 19th & Early 20th century (or even if you're not ) I'd suggest Travels in High Albania, by Edith Durham, a remarkable woman who became greatly respected by the people of the region. It was republished by Virago in the 70's or 80's - not sure if it's still in print, but well worth looking for.

I got Eric Newby's Love & war in the Apennines the book you suggested. I'm already half way through and loving it.