Listen free for 30 days
-
The Great Railway Bazaar
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Great Railway Bazaar
Buy Now for £19.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
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.
More from the same
What listeners say about The Great Railway Bazaar
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Colin
- 05-04-11
I was on the train
The narrator of this story made it all come to life and it felt as though I was on the train travelling alongside and could smell and feel all the pleasures and discomforts afforded to the traveller. I have purchased the second part his return and already it has highlighted how the passing of time along with age makes you value and appreciate different things even after compensating and making allowances for memories being a ghost train and bringing about a sense of melancholy sense of loss.
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Julian Hughes
- 10-03-20
foreign names still a problem in travel books!
I love this book. I've read it at least twice and expect I may do so again in a few years. It's brilliant! If you've ever travelled huge distances by train you'll recognise so much and appreciate the author's unique tone. If you haven't, but you wonder what it might be like, then get this book! It is a few decades old but if you go far enough you'll find yourself in those same types of carriages and cities and obscure wayside places.
The narration is OK but it has the usual vice of American narrators. He can only properly pronounce well known English language names. You'd think in a continental nation built on immigration that the audio book industry could find a few people who can make a decent attempt at those funny foreign words, especially if they are required to narrate a travel book. But no, not possible. Otherwise he is OK, good pace, intonation, appropriately expressive and so on.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- La Chute
- 25-11-19
get on board
superb book, brilliantly read, I laughed out loud and followed the journeys on google earth
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
- paul
- 26-01-13
Intensely irritating narration
Sadly the narration of this book ruined it for me , we where introduced to more and more characters as the story progressed their accents never sounded natural.and became intensely irritating
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- nadia
- 13-05-20
Uninspiring Story, Terrible Narration
This book has not aged well, and although it may show how pompous American travellers could be in the 70s, it is an altogether uninspiring, dreary tale where the reader is left as drained as the author by its finish.
This in itself is personal taste, however the poor review is fully deserved when the narration is taken into account. Almost every place name is pronounced incorrectly, and the accents he attempts to portray are so poor it's offensive.
This was simply not for me. A disappointing listen.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. C. J. Kennedy
- 26-04-22
Great to listen to while on a train
Enjoyed this book. Don't think long distance trains have changed much. Knowing in my lifetime I won't be able to take the trans Siberian is sad, but Paul's description doesn't leaving me wanting!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Rn Francis
- 26-08-15
Classic travel book
Read this years ago in the heyday of my own travelling days.
I was not a massive fan back then, but re-reading/listening I enjoyed it much more this time.
The narrator did a decent job, though made most of the Westerners sound more than a bit grumpy.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- oliver
- 26-03-14
Not the best audible book
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
The story itself didn't grab me as his other books have. Paul appears to be bored himself during this journey which comes across, with a sense of apathy.
What will your next listen be?
not sure at this point
Would you be willing to try another one of Frank Muller’s performances?
Maybe
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Boredom
Any additional comments?
n/a
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amith Sitaram
- 18-02-22
Needs a redoing
This has to be one of the most annoying and racist audiobooks I have ever listened to. Being from South Asia, one thing I can say is no one sounds like Peter Sellers from The Party and to make of mockery of us trying to speak to someone who can’t understand any other language is inexcusable. I can’t believe that this type of performance still exists and we are made to listen to this.
The story is haphazard and broken. Some sections getting more airtime than others. It does give a peak into the lives in Asia in 70s but definitely not a book I would recommend.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Knowledge thru Books.
- 18-01-22
Enjoyable excursion to a world long gone.
Really enjoyed this brilliant evocative classic. I found thiis book highly entertaining . The narration was excellent.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- david d.
- 27-03-11
Just about as good as it gets...
It's great to have this at Audible, an amazing trip by Paul Theroux, with great narration by the late Frank Muller, he captures Theroux's attitude, mood, and "crankiness," perfectly.
Additionally, the book has what I think is the best attribute of recorded books; forward momentum. I usually listen while walking, and I think the best books help me move forward.
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- rosswgray
- 05-11-15
Outstanding Example of Travel Writing
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!).
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carol M
- 01-02-17
One of my favorite audio books so far.
Any additional comments?
Sharp observations and dry wit combined with absolutely beautiful writing about far away places. I want to read more by Paul Theroux. And Frank Muller's outstanding voice acting brought this book to life. His voice seemed perfectly suited for the material, I felt like the author himself was there. And his wide range of accents was astonishing.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard
- 16-04-16
Paul Theroux is a master of travel writing
For those who think he is callus or jaded in his writings then you are a tourist not a traveler. If you want sunshine and resorts watch the Travel Channel. Traveling is not about package tours. Traveling is about experiencing life and sometimes it is ruff.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Berta
- 16-02-16
Perfect
Great story by Theroux, great performance by Muller.
Hilarious, fascinating, engaging and inspiring.
One of the best books I've read in a long time
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jay Menon
- 19-10-15
Peter Sellers Accent- Such a put off
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
I had read this book when i was in school, which was a long long time ago. Railways has always been a fascination and it was delightful at that time to read about other countries ( i am from India ) and their Railways. I have recently started on Audible and wanted to listen to this book. The book started off alright in London and then rapidly moved through Turkey, Afghanistan, India with a grating Peter Seller's from the movie Party accent for every single non white person in the book. I really wish the book had been read with one non descript accent rather than this cacophony of made up accents. Seems like a burra sahib deciding to teach the natives a lesson on how to pronouce something.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gene Bowker
- 02-08-14
must listen for any Theroux fan
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
The GRB is one of the classics in travel books. If you are a railroad buff like me, it is almost "required" listening
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Great Railway Bazaar?
Theroux has a way to making the people he meets on the trains into unforgettable characters
What about Frank Muller’s performance did you like?
He has an easy to listen to voice. In my mind he is the voice of Theroux now, even though I don't know what he really sounds like =)
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Umm.. a little too long for that =) Great for a road-trip
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jeanne
- 07-12-11
Riviting
What did you love best about The Great Railway Bazaar?
I loved Theroux's frank descriptions of what he experienced and how he felt about everything.
What did you like best about this story?
It made me want to take the same trip--or ar at least parts of it.
What about Frank Muller’s performance did you like?
Muller's tempo is just right, alternating appropriately from phrase to phrase and he speaks the various accents convincingly.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- nlb61
- 22-01-17
Very funny book ,great story, ruined by narrator
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
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Noam
- 11-04-14
Excellent depiction
I love travel and love travelogues.
This is my first experience with Paul Theroux and I extremely enjoyed his humor and his insight.
1 person found this helpful