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The Pillars of Hercules: A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean
 
 
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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)
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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: 55,937 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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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
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
19 of 20 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 6 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 on 22 Jul 2007 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 29 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

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