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Around the World in 80 Trains

A 45,000-Mile Adventure

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Around the World in 80 Trains

By: Monisha Rajesh
Narrated by: Monisha Rajesh
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Bloomsbury presents Around the World in 80 Trains written and read by Monisha Rajesh.

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER AWARD FOR BEST TRAVEL BOOK
SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD


'Monisha Rajesh has chosen one of the best ways of seeing the world. Never too fast, never too slow, her journey does what trains do best. Getting to the heart of things. Prepare for a very fine ride' Michael Palin

From the cloud-skimming heights of Tibet’s Qinghai railway to silk-sheeted splendour on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Around the World in 80 Trains is a celebration of the glory of train travel and a witty and irreverent look at the world.

Packing up her rucksack – and her fiancé, Jem – Monisha Rajesh embarks on an unforgettable adventure that takes her from London’s St Pancras station to the vast expanses of Russia and Mongolia, North Korea, Canada, Kazakhstan, and beyond. The journey is one of constant movement and mayhem, as the pair strike up friendships and swap stories with the hilarious, irksome and ultimately endearing travellers they meet on board, all while taking in some of the earth’s most breathtaking views.©2019 Monisha Rajesh (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Adventure Travel Asia Engineering Railroad Russia Adventure Funny Witty Inspiring Travel Essays
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Critic reviews

What makes the book is [Rajesh's] wit, astute observations and willingness to try everything ... She arrived at St Pancras, on time, tired and triumphant. Her riveting account of the odyssey leaves us feeling the same
As Monisha Rajesh triumphantly demonstrates in Around the World in 80 Trains, there’s life yet in both the trip and the telling
Delightful ... Rajesh is not only blessed with an elegant style, but is witty and ever ready for a bit of self-deprecation
Monisha Rajesh has chosen one of the best ways of seeing the world. Never too fast, never too slow, her journey does what trains do best. Getting to the heart of things. Prepare for a very fine ride (Michael Palin)
Rajesh [is] a rare rising star of the genre … She has a simple and easy style, she sees everything and listens to everyone, she’s funny when she wants to be and serious when she needs to be, and she keeps the whole thing barrelling along like a wonderful dinner party conversation (Marcus Berkmann)
A relentlessly curious and wonderfully descriptive writer … [Rajesh] offers us a never-ending series of Theroux-esque, quirky anecdotes … Remarkably engaging … If you fancy learning about global travel in the relative slow lane, try boarding this carriage and staring out the window – here you can view the world through Rajesh’s eyes, as she takes us on a lazy, time-bending meander in search of authenticity and humanity
An epic journey … When I say that I felt almost physically tired at the end of this book, I mean it as a compliment, a testament to its vivid evocations (Country Life)
A triumph: a rollicking account, full of memorable encounters and laced with wit … Rajesh is an elegant stylist with a winning line in self-depreciation; hers is a delightful book
This is travel-writing entirely at home in the 21st century, penned by a travel writer entirely comfortable in her own skin, and unashamedly enthused by the thrill of setting out to meet new people and to see new places
A wonderfully wry and witty debut. Crackles and sparks with life like an exploding box of Diwali fireworks
Rajesh's quick-fire writing is unflinchingly frank, with details packed in as tightly as passengers on Mumbai's commuter trains. A lively read
A great big lovely shambling train ride of a book, offering wonderful views, hilarious interludes, all sorts of dodgy characters and some very peculiar smells, all for the one ticket
An ode to locomotive travel, it is bound with heart-warming human encounters, chaos, and awe-inspiring views
All stars
Most relevant
This is the PERFECT escape from our current situation! The locations, the encounters and the experiences are so well described (and performed) they are almost palpable. Pack your bags, are you are about to travel around the world!

A fantastic book, perfect for lockdown!

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Wonderful trip enhanced by the authors narration. I hope she embarks on another adventure soon, and that Audible produce her Indian train travel book SOOOn.

What a trip

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Vivid descriptions of far away places, a true sense of travel and its highs, and lows, and some gentle but telling insights into the human condition. Recommended.

All aboard

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Fascinating, joyful, thought provoking and occasionally disturbing - I thoroughly vicariously enjoyed this adventure and now want to figure out how I can have one too!

Glorious

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Loved this book. The descriptions of the sight, sounds and smells along the journey transported me there. An amazing journey that bought to life each of the 80 train journeys giving great insights into the countries and their people. Would definitely recommend it.

Fantastic trip around the world

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