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Halfway Around the World: An Improbable Journey
By tramp steamer, ferry, oil tanker, schooner, and Arab dhow, Young makes his way from Piraeus to Canton in this modern-day seafaring adventure
- GenresTravel
472 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1983
22 people want to read
About the author
Gavin Young
53 books8 followersGavin David Young (24 April 1928 – 18 January 2001) was a journalist and travel writer.
He was born in Bude, Cornwall, England. His father, Gavin Young, was a lieutenant colonel in the Welsh Guards. Daphne, his mother, was the daughter of Sir Charles Leolin Forestier-Walker, Bt, of Monmouthshire. Young spent most of his youth in Cornwall and South Wales. He graduated from Oxford University, where he studied modern history.
Young spent two years with the Ralli Brothers shipping company in Basra in Iraq before living with the Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. He fashioned his experiences into a book, Return to the Marshes (1977). In 1960, from Tunis, he joined The Observer of London as a foreign correspondent, and was the Observer's correspondent in Paris and New York. He had covered fifteen wars and revolutions throughout the world, and worked for The Guardian and was a travel writer. Young died in London on 18 January 2001; he was 72 years old.
He was born in Bude, Cornwall, England. His father, Gavin Young, was a lieutenant colonel in the Welsh Guards. Daphne, his mother, was the daughter of Sir Charles Leolin Forestier-Walker, Bt, of Monmouthshire. Young spent most of his youth in Cornwall and South Wales. He graduated from Oxford University, where he studied modern history.
Young spent two years with the Ralli Brothers shipping company in Basra in Iraq before living with the Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. He fashioned his experiences into a book, Return to the Marshes (1977). In 1960, from Tunis, he joined The Observer of London as a foreign correspondent, and was the Observer's correspondent in Paris and New York. He had covered fifteen wars and revolutions throughout the world, and worked for The Guardian and was a travel writer. Young died in London on 18 January 2001; he was 72 years old.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 19, 2013
Had a good start but bogged down about halfway through. Couldn't finish the last 150 pages; kept falling asleep. Am thinking better editing of the second half would have been a saving grace. Maybe shorten the final 200 or so pages to 50. I tried skimming but just couldn't muster enough interest to get thru it.
May 7, 2021
When a seasoned (white male) war reporter with friends in all places decides to travel in an unconventional way he can have utterly unique adventures.
Travelling can be full of tiresome obstacles which do form part of this book. The author lets us into the many quickly-formed and quickly-over friendships that delightfully form over the journeys. This is far more interesting than Paul Theroux's navel-gazing travels.
Travelling can be full of tiresome obstacles which do form part of this book. The author lets us into the many quickly-formed and quickly-over friendships that delightfully form over the journeys. This is far more interesting than Paul Theroux's navel-gazing travels.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews