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Article: From Herodotus to Paul Theroux, lively travel tales
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- December 13, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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It begins in Egypt with Herodotus, circa 440 B.C.: "Concerning
Egypt itself, I shall extend my remarks to a great length, because
there is no country that possesses so many wonders, nor any that has
such a number of works which defy description."
It ends a mere decade ago with Paul Theroux, beset by "the
mainstay of American small talk in India: The American on His
Bowels." Each time the topic arose, "I wanted to take the speaker by
his hand-loomed shirt, and, shaking him, say, `Now listen to me!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with your bowels!' "
Between Herodotus and Theroux are ranged Marco Polo, Jonathan
Swift, Laurence Stern, Samuel Johnson, Lord Byron, Charles Dickens,
Charles ...