Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
65 used & new from £0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Pillars of Hercules: A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean
 
 

The Pillars of Hercules: A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean (Paperback)

by Paul Theroux (Author) "People here in Western civilization say that tourists are no different from apes, but on the Rock of Gibraltar, one of the Pillars of Hercules,..." (more)
3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
Price: £6.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £3.00 (30%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, July 14? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
23 new from £2.99 38 used from £0.01 4 collectible from £5.00
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover (First Edition) 40 used & new from £0.01
Paperback (Trade Paperback) 33 used & new from £0.01
Audio Cassette (Abridged,Audiobook) 5 used & new from £5.50

Frequently Bought Together

The Pillars of Hercules: A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean + The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas + The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia (Penguin Modern Classics)
Price For All Three: £20.97

Show availability and shipping details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas

The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas

by Paul Theroux
3.8 out of 5 stars (13)  £6.99
The Kingdom by the Sea: A Journey Around the Coast of Great Britain

The Kingdom by the Sea: A Journey Around the Coast of Great Britain

by Paul Theroux
3.4 out of 5 stars (14)  £6.99
The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia (Penguin Modern Classics)

The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia (Penguin Modern Classics)

by Paul Theroux
4.4 out of 5 stars (12)  £6.99
The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific

The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific

by Paul Theroux
3.3 out of 5 stars (6)  £9.09
Riding the Iron Rooster: By Train Through China

Riding the Iron Rooster: By Train Through China

by Paul Theroux
3.8 out of 5 stars (4)  £6.99
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 544 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (30 Nov 2000)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140245332
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140245332
  • Product Dimensions: 19.9 x 12.8 x 3.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 16,333 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
Luxury Tours Of Italy
   www.passionateaboutitaly.co.uk    Tour Italy in Style and Elegance Quality, Leisurely Grand Tours 
Tour Of
   www.Ask.com    Find the Best Results for Tour Of. Ask us! 
  
 

Product Description

Product Description
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.

About the Author
Paul Theroux was born in Medford Massachusetts, in 1941, and published his first novel, WALDO, in 1967. His subsequent novels include Picture Palace, winner of the Whitbread Prize for Fiction, The Mosquito Coast, and the hugely acclaimed, Kowloon Tong. His travel books include The Great Railway Bazaar and The Pillars of Hercules.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
People here in Western civilization say that tourists are no different from apes, but on the Rock of Gibraltar, one of the Pillars of Hercules, I saw both tourists and apes together, and I learned to tell them apart. Read the first page
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


 

Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging tale of Mediterranean Journey, 19 Feb 2001
By Nosy Wombat (London, UK) - See all my reviews
I 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 most obscure places. He covers Barcelona in one page, Greece in 2, but spends a chapter on a remote village in Tunisia. This is perhaps the essence of his work. He concentrates squarely on the people in the places he visits, rather than the places himself. This stands sharply in contrast with the writings of the other popular travel writer, Bill Bryson, who seeks out the well known places on his travel and gives his forthright opinion of them. Theroux is more the dark shady traveller who mills around the edges of the sites and observes those who are there to see the sites.

Overall, I found the book to be highly enjoyable. It gives great insight into the people and culture of the Mediterranean, but don't expect to use it as a planning book for your next holiday - it is definitely the tale of one man's journey.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Mild about the Med, 30 Jun 2001
By J. Mcgregor "jiy126" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Definitely 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 chapter is when he takes a freebie trip on a luxury cruise liner. What was the point of that? It just doesn't fit with the rest of the book. Nevertheless, I'd still recommend the Pillars of Hercules to anyone that has the taste for armchair travel.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars How to travel the Med in your armchair, 13 Jan 2000
By A Customer
I have read several of Paul Theroux's books and some of Bill Bryden's as well and I find both of them inspired writers.This is an enthralling book.It was great to visit ,once more,albeit by armchair this time all the old spots I loved before and just as entertaining to visit those places I've never been before. Paul Theroux is very descriptive in his writing and a great humourist as well.He can at times have a very wry sense of humour and beware anyone,who tramps on his toes,governments or individuals! I bought this book at the airport -on my way to Spain-and I felt after I finished reading it that I had done a complete tour of the Med. Well done to Paul Theroux and Thank You for many happy journeys in my imagination.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious Mediterranean
I only discovered Paul Theroux's writing recently (Dark Star Safari), but now that I have, I can't get enough. Read more
Published 2 months ago by G. van Vuuren

2.0 out of 5 stars Hard Work
Having enjoyed all sorts of travel writing for many years...Bill Bryson, Pete McCarthy, Peter Moore, Tim Parks and all the new life in Spain/Italy brigade, I turned to Paul... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. G. A. Knott

3.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good
I had previously read Theroux's 'Kingdom by the Sea' and have to say I intensely disliked it. So I was unsure about this book (which I'd bought before reading Kingdom) and it sat... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr X

5.0 out of 5 stars Herculean
Paul Theroux's 'Grand Tour of the Mediterranean' is typical Theroux in many ways, the vagaries of his mood often colouring his perception of the places he visits, but he plays on... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Demob Happy

1.0 out of 5 stars 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! Read more
Published 23 months ago by Geo Valasakis

1.0 out of 5 stars I flung this book across the room...
...enraged by the inaccuracies and prejudices that Theroux aired during his description of Gibraltar and Estepona. Read more
Published on 28 Jul 2005 by paellataffy

4.0 out of 5 stars 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!). Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars How to travel the Med in your armchair
I have read several of Paul Theroux's books and some of Bill Bryden's as well and I find both of them inspired writers.This is an enthralling book. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Meandering Mediterraenean Medley
The reason i bought Mr. Therouxs' book "The Pillars of Hercules" was because I had read all of Bill Brysons. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel writer off the beaten track - the tourists Grand Tour
Paul Theroux suprises us all by taking the 'Grand tour' of the Med'. Traveling along side the tourists and still keeping his distinction of being a traveller, Paul gives us his... Read more
Published on 15 May 1999

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

Shop the Powerball store

 

More From Paul Theroux

The Ghost Train...

The Ghost Train to the Eastern Star...

'Funny, informative, lyrical. Theroux is a fabulously good writer. The... Read more
£8.99 £5.79

 

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates