The Great Railway Bazaar Audiobook By Paul Theroux cover art

The Great Railway Bazaar

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The Great Railway Bazaar

By: Paul Theroux
Narrated by: Frank Muller
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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 Funny Witty
Vivid Descriptions • Succinct Characterizations • Sardonic Wit • Forward Momentum • Engaging Storytelling
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This was the book that made Paul famous. It isn't as long as the newer Ghost Train To The Eastern Star, which is also a revisit of this classic Paul Theroux. The description evoke vivid imagery throughout the fast paced trip. The narrator, however was a bit too fast paced. I would have been happier had he slowed down long enough for me to digest Paul's descriptive writing. I have taken the trains in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Sri Lanka. All are as dilapidated as Paul says they are, but they are cheap, slow and comfortable. A few of the Chinese trains are very sleek and clean now. The characters are what made these train books so great. I have to wonder if some of them aren't fictional. I met a few interesting people on the trains, but it was mostly traveling salesmen in China. I can speak fairly well, so interacting with the locals is what the train adventure is all about.

Paul's best work

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Very well written. Funny and entretaining. Frank Muller does an amazing job narrating it! Would recommend!

What a great story!

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Loved it as I do most of his books. I listen to them often Narration was great.

Best travel book.

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This audiobook was a true pleasure. Frank Muller's narration was pitch perfect at every turn, from his delivery of a Tamil man criticizing the New Delhi elites, to his performance of Theroux's own sometimes understated, sometimes exasperated, sardonic wit.

The greatest pleasure of this travel account is it's subjectivity! Theroux is so frank about his likes and dislikes, his expectations and disappointments, you really connect with his assessments, even if you don't agree with them.

Also, this book is funny as hell. I laughed out loud commuting on the subway, walking in the park, or sitting on my couch. I looked forward to every minute of listening, and I often backed up just to listen to a conversation a second or third time.

Definitely my top listen of 2015 (and I've listened to over 20 books so far this year!).

Outstanding Example of Travel Writing

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What did you love best about The Great Railway Bazaar?

A great travel adventure, written at a time when crossing the globe was a much more challenging experience. Will resonate with anyone who's embarked on a voyage across cultures.

What did you like best about this story?

It reminded me of what I love about freeform travel

What about Frank Muller’s performance did you like?

The narrator was excellent - when the accents seem natural and quietly add to the appreciation of the story, rather than being something that you notice outright, then the narrator has done their job well.

A great listen for the traveller

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Had to reread because I enjoyed it so much the first time. A nice diversion from the monotony of everyday life.

Beautifully Descriptive Writing -2nd Reading

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The setup is interesting, lovely train journey and remarkable to view the world through the eyes of someone living all these decades ago.
As expected some descriptions are outdated and the fondness of the author for booze is sometimes tiring.
I recommend this book, but didn’t expect a very deep work of art. If you take the observations at face value and appreciate the descriptive writing style (which is very good) then you’re in for an enjoyable journey.

Interesting but dated

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Would you try another book from Paul Theroux and/or Frank Muller?

Any Paul Theroux book yes, not narrated by Frank Muller, wrong person for this author.
I read the physical book and it was so very funny; I could not continue to listen to the overwhelming gravitas of Frank Muller's narration

Would you be willing to try another one of Frank Muller’s performances?

no

Very funny book ,great story, ruined by narrator

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This is the best narration job I’ve ever listened to ... Spectacular ... It really puts you where the action is ...

Awesome narration ...

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This is my first Paul Theroux book and I really enjoyed it. Like an artist who only needs 2 strokes of his brush to bring a picture to life, Paul Theroux brings his subjects alive with succinct descriptions - whether describing the scenery outside his window or characterising a person he meets on the train. I like how he says a travelogue becomes a autobiography which becomes a confession.

Makes me want to take the train again!

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