Cultural Meanderings

Reviews of things I've read ¦ seen ¦ watched

  • Travel Writing
  • Fiction
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Art
  • Music
  • Museum

Category: Europe

Europe / Travel Writing

Love and War in the Apennines, Eric Newby

This isn’t really a travel book, but Newby’s standing as a travel writer is enough to justify its inclusion here. The author describes his amazing experiences during the Second World War after he escaped the clutches of his Italian guards in a PoW hospital and – aided by some brave locals – headed for the… Read More

Posted 13 years ago September 13, 2010
By Jonathan Turton
0
Europe / Travel Writing

Best Foot Forward, Susie Kelly

Here we go again… mad English person does crazy walk. This particular walk crosses France from La Rochelle on the west coast to Lake Geneva on the eastern border with Switzerland. It’s hard to know what to say about this book. It’s gently amusing and mildly frustrating. Fifty-something Kelly chooses not to explain the circumstances… Read More

Posted 18 years ago April 22, 2005
By Jonathan Turton
0
Europe / Travel Writing

Over the Land and Over the Sea, Edward Lear

Edward Lear, a travel writer? Who knew? Famed for his books of nonsense poetry and accompanying doodles, Lear’s love was in fact lanscape painting and in the mid-19th century he travelled Europe and beyond in search of scenes suitable for his oils and watercolours. This collection brings together the familiar nonsense and the less familiar… Read More

Posted 18 years ago March 8, 2005
By Jonathan Turton
0
Europe / Travel Writing

Two Degrees West, Nicholas Crane

This is an account of an eccentric journey by an eccentric Englishman. Nicholas Crane is the man who, a few weeks after getting married, left his wife at home while he spent 18 months walking along the watershed of Europe from Galicia to Istanbul. Five years later, in 1997, equipped with his trademark umbrella and… Read More

Posted 18 years ago November 30, 2004
By Tony Turton
0
Europe / Travel Writing

French Revolutions, Tim Moore

It is hard to believe that Tim Moore is quite the couch potato he would have us believe. Although anyone daft enough to attempt to tackle the route of the 2000 Tour de France with even some training must be a sprocket short of a chainring. Moore claims less training than this and thus is… Read More

Posted 18 years ago October 24, 2004
By Jonathan Turton
0
Europe / Travel Writing

Round Ireland with a Fridge, Tony Hawks

Starting your book, “I’m not, by nature, a betting man. I’m not, by nature, a drinking man”, raises a certain level of expectation in the reader – and happily Hawks’ book lives up to this. Englishman Hawks takes off on a one-month quest to hitchhike around the circumference of Ireland with a 2’x2′ foot fridge… Read More

Posted 18 years ago October 14, 2004
By Jonathan Turton
0
Europe / Paul Theroux / Travel Writing

The Pillars of Hercules, Paul Theroux

Theroux exports his acerbic wit to the Mediterranean for this reconstruction of the Grand Tour. It is pointless berating him – as many do – for his constant criticism and disparaging remarks. What is more remarkable in this book is the contrasts he throws up, both in his own writing – the tone of which… Read More

Posted 19 years ago September 26, 2004
By Jonathan Turton
0
Europe

McCarthy’s Bar, Pete McCarthy

This may be McCarthy’s first book, but his ample writing experience is clear in this extremely well written, funny, and touching account of his travels in his mother’s native western Ireland. Oh yes, and of his quest to drink Guinness in bars called McCarthy – a laudable aim of any trip. Studiously avoiding any of… Read More

Posted 19 years ago September 16, 2004
By Jonathan Turton
0
Europe / Travel Writing

Riders to the Midnight Sun, Marc Llewellyn

“Oh no”, I thought, “Not another crazy travel writer doing something offbeat. Still, s’pose I better read it.” And I am glad I did. Llewellyn’s trip with his girlfriend Rohan may have been born out of a premature mid-life crisis and a desire to see Russia, but ends up being an enjoyable and fast-paced story… Read More

Posted 19 years ago April 23, 2004
By Jonathan Turton
1
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: tdMacro by Themes Harbor
 

Loading Comments...