The Kingdom by the Sea: A Journey Around the Coast of Great Britain

• Paperback - 01 October, 1995 - Penguin (Non-Classics)
• Usually ships in 2 to 5 weeks
• By: Paul Theroux and Penguin USA Paper
• ISBN: 0140071814

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Reviews by readers

Curmudgeon's Diary of Walking the Coast of Great Britain

Engrossing and amusing travelogue by world's crankiest traveler.

Some people really hate Theroux, accusing him of snobbery, self importance, and bigotry. I can certainly see why some readers wouldn't be able to deal with his style and opinions, but I must say that this volume might be a pretty good litmus test of readers' tolerance for the author's travel works. (If you can enjoy this one, you'll probably enjoy his other non-fiction works).

I, for one, totally enjoyed hearing about grunge-y has-been towns, obnoxious holiday camps, and seedy hotels. To me, the book was a real page-turner, and he writes so vividly of scenery. I felt he wrote about the worst bits of his trip with true humor, reminding us travelers that it's helpful to keep a sense of humor during the rough times.

I felt the book was a pretty decent scouting report for the island's shoreline, and I now know what to avoid there. I can definitely thank Theroux and his fussy standards!

If you like Theroux, it's a good bet you'll love this one.

Do I really need a title

People who read Theroux and then complain about how he's cranky are sort of like people who read Faulkner and then complain he's longwinded and a little confusing. Theroux is a dyspepetic grumbler who intentionally makes himself as miserable as possible while traveling, not only because he's probably clinically depressed but also because books about things going wrong are incredibly more interesting than books about things going right. Theroux was also traveling through Britain during a period in which the country was indeed a rather dingy place.

I found this book enjoyable but ultimately more evanescent than Theroux's other works. Although he occasionally trudges through one of the more remote (and by default more engaging) parts of Britain which pique the reader's interest, most of the book is taken up by a repetitive series of trailer parks, artillery ranges and commentary on the Falklands War. All in all, though, I'd rather read Theroux's travel guide than Lonely Planet's.

Brighter, happier travel books

For those of you who think this book is depressing, try Susan Allen Toth's travel books about England. They are charming!

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