Do you ever feel like running away? It’s the merry month of May, the sun is shining, and I have itchy feet. Nevertheless, I’m stuck at my computer, typing away at projects with due dates. This morning, though, I came across an out, a listing of the 86 Greatest Travel Books of All Time from an article I tore out of Conde Nast Traveler many years ago. So, I’m thinking that a little armchair travel will be good for the soul.
Below is a list of 10 books, all published during the Cold War. At least explicitly, most have nothing to do with the superpower rivalry, proxy wars, or espionage. But they will present a view of the world during that heated half century that, hopefully, provides some context for that era. I’d like to think it’s ‘adventure with a purpose’.
As always, if you purchase one of the books from Cold War Studies’ Amazon link, we will receive a small commission. (Just know that you’ll never pay more if you buy from us.)
Here’s the list. I hope you find something you can’t resist!
Arabian Sands
Wilfred Thesiger (1959)
Born in Ethiopia to a British diplomat, the writer-explorer was disenchanted with the West and spent five years traveling among the bedouins of southern Arabia. Amazon says: “In the spirit of T. E. Lawrence, he set out to explore the deserts of Arabia, traveling among peoples who had never seen a European and considered it their duty to kill Christian infidels. His now-classic account is invaluable to understanding the modern Middle East.”
An Area of Darkness
S. Naipaul (1965)
This is the book that launched Naipaul’s reputation; in it he defines the India of the early sixties. Amazon notes: “Traveling from the bureaucratic morass of Bombay to the ethereal beauty of Kashmir, from a sacred ice cave in the Himalayas to an abandoned temple near Madras, Naipaul encounters a dizzying cross-section of humanity: browbeaten government workers and imperious servants, a suavely self-serving holy man and a deluded American religious seeker.”
Bitter Lemons of Cyprus
Lawrence Durrell (1957)
Cyprus fights for its independence from British colonial rule with ancient conflicts between Turkish and Greek Cypriots as background. The book explores how frustrated young men turn to violence as an agricultural island is urbanized too quickly.
Their Heads are Green and Their Hands are Blue
Paul Bowles (1963)
After settling in Tangier, the novelist is charged with recording obscure Moroccan music for the Library of Congress. A staunch anticolonialist, Bowles then writes a series of essays, mostly concerned with remote spots in the Hindu, Buddhist, or Mohammedan worlds. (One essay takes place in Central America.)
A View of the World
Norman Lewis (1986)
Recognized by Graham Green as one of the best writers of the twentieth century, this book is a compilation of 20 pieces spanning 30 years. The author is particularly “proud of an article on the devastation of Amerindian populations in Brazil.” There’s also an interview with an executioner for Castro.
Rome and a Villa
Eleanor Clark (1952)
The New York Times says: “Perhaps the finest book ever to be written about a city.” The book is a collection of vignettes, written mostly between 1948 and 1951. Amazon notes: “Clark highlights Roman art and architecture, including Hadrian’s Villa—an enormous, unfinished palace—as a prism to view the city and its history . . . “
Sandstorms: Days and Nights in Arabia
Peter Theroux (1990)
Written by Paul Theroux’s brother, the book begins as a search for a vanished Lebanese iman, but then focuses more on understanding Saudi culture from within. Having lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, the author recounts the customs, religion, and food of the Arab culture and recalls the odd assortment of characters he encountered.
Shah of Shahs
Ryszard Kapuscinski (1982)
(Translated from the Polish by William R. Brand and Katarzyna Mroczkowska-Brand.)
Deeply engaged with Iran’s history, the author documents the revolution’s chaos while providing context for the event.
A Short Walk on the Hindu Kush
Eric Newby (1958)
A fashion buyer with no mountaineering experience, the author recounts his unsuccessful attempt to climb a 19,800 foot peak in Afghanistan. From Amazon: “With good humour, sharp wit and keen observation, the charming narrative style . . . would soon crystallise Newby’s reputation as one of the greatest travel writers of all time.” A classic.
If you like A Short Walk on the Hindu Kush, you might also want to pick up Newby’s Slowly Down the Ganges (1966). It’s said to be a funny story with a good mix of history and interactions with locals. (Rosemary Mahoney)
The Songlines
Bruce Chatwin (1987)
Chatwin, lauded as the greatest travel writer of his generation, comes to Australia to learn Aboriginal songs as a metaphor for the evolution of human culture. “After reading this book, you will be convinced that the land you step on, whether at home or abroad, is alive with stories which we need to respect and listen for.” (Julia Alvarez)
I’ve put a couple of these works on my shortlist. I hope some of them appeal to you too!
Happy Reading!!
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Content is largely drawn from Amazon and Conde Nast. I’ve cited the original publication date, even though many works have newer versions.
Boy Leading Camels: Photo by Mike Prince (Flickr)
