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Old Glory

An American Voyage
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( 813 ratings, 88 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Old Glory by Jonathan Raban, the author embarks on a solitary journey down the Mississippi River in a small boat. The narrative blends adventure, historical insights, and personal reflection as Raban navigates the diverse landscapes and cultures along the river. This travelogue vividly captures the essence of America’s heartland through the lens of exploration and self-discovery.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by journeys that blend history, personal reflection, and the exploration of a nation's cultural landscape. Through a captivating voyage along the Mississippi River, the author offers a rich and introspective narrative that captures the essence of American life and adventure.

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'Jonathan Raban is one of the world's greatest living travel writers.' William Dalrymple

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Jonathan Raban is one of the world's greatest living travel writers. – William Dalrymple

The best book of travel ever written by an Englishman about the United States. – Jan Morris, Independent

Navigating the Mississippi River from Minneapolis to New Orleans, Raban opens himself to experience the river in all her turbulent and unpredictable old glory. Going wherever the current takes him, he joins a coon-hunt in Savana, falls for a girl in St Louis, worships with black Baptists in Memphis, hangs out with the housewives of Pemiscot, and the hog-king of Dubuque. Through tears of laughter, we are led into the heartland of America with its hunger and hospitality, its inventive energy, and its charming lethargy, coming to know something of its soul.

The journey is as much the story of Raban as it is of the Mississippi. Navigating the dangerous, ever-changing waters in an unsuitably fragile aluminium skiff, he immerses himself with an irresistible emotional intensity as he tries to give shape to the river and the story, finding himself by turns vulnerable, curious, angry and, like all of us, sometimes foolishly in love.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780601366

Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 May 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Eland Publishing Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 250g

Pages: 420

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