Why Join?

  • Add New Books

  • Write a Review

  • Backpack Reading Lists

  • Monthly Newsletter

Join Now

The Old Patagonian Express

The Old Patagonian Express

Author(s): Paul Theroux

Location(s): North America, South America

Genre(s): Travelogue

Era(s): Late 1900s

Location

Content

The Old Patagonian Expresstells of Paul Theroux’s train journey down the length of North and South America. Beginning on Boston’s subway, he depicts a voyage from ice-bound Massachusetts to the arid plateau of Argentina’s most southerly tip, via pretty Central American towns and the ancient Incan city of Macchu Pichu. Shivering and sweating by turns as the temperature and altitude rise and plummet, he describes the people he encountered – thrown in with the tedious, and unavoidable, Mr Thornberry in Limón and reading to the legendary blind writer, Jorge Luis Borges, in Buenos Aires. Witty, sharply observed and beautifully written, this is a richly evocative account of travelling to ‘the end of the line’.

Review this Book

To review this book, please

Log in

Book Reviews

Lead Review

The picture of the Americas is stunning, captured beautifully, in Theroux’ unique style of writing – LENDY –

Read review

Latest Blogs