Paul Theroux's first collection of essays and articles devoted entirely to travel writing, FRESH AIR FIEND touches down on five continents and floats through most seas in between to deliver a literary adventure of the first order, with the incomparable Paul Theroux as a guide. From the crisp quiet of a solitary week spent in the snowbound Maine woods to the expectant chaos of Hong Kong on the eve of the Hand-over, Theroux demonstrates how the traveling life and the writing life are intimately connected. His journeys in remote hinterlands and crowded foreign capitals provide the necessary perspective to "become a stranger" in order to discover the self. A companion volume to SUNRISE WITH SEAMONSTERS, FRESH AIR FIEND is the ultimate good read for anyone fascinated by travel in the wider world or curious about the life of one of our most passionate travelers.
In this landmark collection, Theroux poses the essential question for any adventurer—and any writer:
- Being a Stranger: From the Peace Corps in Africa to kayaking solo in the Pacific, Theroux argues that only by becoming an outsider can a traveler truly discover the self.
- Travels in Asia: Witness the last days of British rule on the eve of the Hong Kong Hand-over and journey down China’s mighty Yangtze River.
- The Writer as Traveler: A series of insightful essays examining the intimate, essential connection between a life on the road and a life on the page.
- Wilderness Adventures: Join Theroux for a solitary week in the snowbound Maine woods and paddle down the remote Zambezi, finding meaning far off the beaten path.