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The Pillars of Hercules: A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean by: Paul Theroux List Price: £9.99 City Travel Guides Price: £6.99 You Save: £3.00 (30%)Prices subject to change. |
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Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 910 EAN: 9780140245332 ISBN: 0140245332 Label: Penguin Books Ltd Manufacturer: Penguin Books Ltd Number Of Pages: 544 Publication Date: June 27, 1996 Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd Studio: Penguin Books Ltd Sales Rank: 7318 Related Items:
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Editorial Review: Synopsis: At the gateway to the Mediterranean lie the two Pillars of Hercules: Gibraltar and Ceuta, in Morocco. Paul Theroux decided to travel from one to the other - but taking the long way round. His grand tour of the Mediterranean begins in Gibraltar and takes him through Spain, the French Riviera, Italy, Greece, Istanbul and beyond. He travels by any means necessary - including dilapidated taxi, smoke-filled bus, bicycle and even a cruise-liner. And he encounters bullfights, bazaars and British tourists, discovers pockets of humanity in war-torn Slovenia and Croatia, is astounded by the urban developments on the Costa del Sol and marvels at the ancient wonders of Delphi. Told with Theroux's inimitable wit and style, this lively and eventful tour evokes the essence of Mediterranean life. Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
 Rating:  - THIS IS A RIDICULOUS BOOK!Jesus! THIS BOOK IS HILLARIOUS! When you read the absurd writtings of Theroux the only thing you can do is to laugh and laugh and laugh! This man is totally uneducated that i am surprised how he University lecturer.(Oups,it was in Uganda and Malawi! Hihihihi) For example, according to Theroux,who wants to be called a writer, Mother Teresa was born in Kosovo!(in fact she was born in Skopie,capital of what now we call Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia),the Serbs are Protestants!!(in fact,the Serbs are Orthodoxs),the church of Ayia Sofia(St.Sophie)in Constantinople,was built in the 15th century!!!(in fact, this marvellous monument was built in the 6th century (within 5 years time, from 532-537). Also, according to mister Theroux, Alexandria ... Read More: Rating: - I flung this book across the room......enraged by the inaccuracies and prejudices that Theroux aired during his description of Gibraltar and Estepona. I confess that I've never managed to finish this book, but if the rest of it is anything like his treatment of Gib I'd say that it probably reveals more about his personality than anything useful. I settled in Estepona at about the time that Theroux paid his visit and it was a charming place, albeit now rather over-developed. Anyway, I've advised my many Gibraltarian friends to give this one a wide berth! Rating:  - Mild about the MedDefinitely one of Theroux's better travelogues, perhaps because of the feeling that he actually quite enjoyed this tour. Sometimes in previous books I became tired with his underlying scorn for almost everything and everyone he sees, relating encounters mostly with the people he loathed. At first it is quite amusing, but eventually becomes wearing as you wonder if Theroux dislikes other people because he basically dislikes himself. In this book, however, he usually qualifies any caustic observations and attempts to see the positive side (although he cannot find one good thing to say about bullfighting. Thankfully.) The best chapter is on Albania, which is almost shocking. Can it really be that bad? And if it is, why didn't Theroux love it? The worst ... Read More: Rating: - Engaging tale of Mediterranean JourneyI started reading this book with trepidation. The last Theroux book I read was "Kingdom by the Sea", a book that primarily sought to inform the reader about how smart the author was and how he didn't much like anywhere in England at all. It was with great surprise that I actually thoroughly enjoyed the book from cover to cover. Theroux is from an academic background and this often shows in his writing. His text is can be ponderous and abstract - examining what it is to be alive and to be in a foreign place. Unlike "Kingdom", however, which was 90% in this style, "Pillars" is a lot more fresh and accessible. It should also be noted that Theroux's approach to travel is very individualistic - he takes the most pleasure from the ... Read More: Rating: - Under the Med!Excellent book! I have enjoyed Theroux's writings for years now and this is by far one of the better ones (can't really get into all his train books like this one!). He not only gives a grand tour around the shorelines of the Med but also introduces the reader to some of the hidden aspects of some of these travel destinations. A bonus to this book was that Mr. Theroux introduced me, and his readers, to Mr. Mahfouz. If you're not familiar with his work, read "Children of the Alley" first! Highly recommended! |
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