Theroux is a U.S. novelist and travel writer - probably the most prominent one still living - known for his sharp observational voice, and his classic follows an epic train journey from Europe through Asia. Refreshingly (at least for a half century ago), here he writes as much about boredom, irritation, and intimacy as wonder, insisting on honesty over romance, and the book remains foundational for modern travel writing’s unapologetically personal tone.

Read more in my post 6 of the Greatest English-Language Travel Books of all Time.