Rambling On the Road to Rome

by Peter F. Brown

An account of the author's travels from Toul in France through Switzerland to Rome, in the footsteps of Hilaire Belloc. Despite obvious cultural changes, after two world wars, there is one immutable aspect of Browne's journey which cannot change - human nature.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[John Tetteroo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this at the annual book fair for a measly 2 euros. I must admit that I was attracted by the blurb on the cover and thought I would give it a go. I was kind of intrigued why a forty something would leave his family behind to retrace the footsteps of Hilaire Belloc. And as you get into the book and get acquainted with Peter Francis Browne you will find out he himself does not really know either. But he does give you quite a lot of interesting clues to the why's of this quest, without really saying so but showing from his (sometimes erratic) behaviour. I had fun theorizing about his real motives. I also felt for the guy being an ex-catholic boy myself, recognizing the remaining fascination with the mother church you left behind, but could not really get out of your system.
A lot of folks here comment on his character, but I think his honesty is commendable. He is just saying what a lot of guys only allow themselves to think. I am sorry ladies, but men are an unsavoury lot at best and Peter Francis is just being a bit more honest about it than other writers. He does not shirk from knowingly exposing himself as an ass which I think is refreshing.
Rambling is also a nice report from pre-online travel, when you had to navigate on unreliable maps, rumours and hearsay. I had almost forgotten that traveller cheques once were a thing and you would be out of contact with anyone till the next pay-phone. You wonder how we made do. Even when Browne does not tell you the exact year of his journey, you can quickly find out it must have been 1988 as he recounts listening to the olympic games of seoul on the radio. I have similar memories of traveling around alone for weeks without any real contact with home. Unbelievable in this day and age.
Still two stars. It was kind of OK, but it does never rise above mediocre at best. The sometimes hilarious humor did kind of save it for me. I won't spoiler, but this is a book that does start off in the rain and goes further downhill from there, he does get to Rome but you will be disappointed way before Milan. Would I have been Browne, I would not have chronicled this attempt but tried again another year.
Interesting is that I did not find any information on his person on the internet. Other than his two documentaries and another book. Vanished back into oblivion way before the internet started recording us all. I think I will now go off and read the original by HB.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been into Travel narratives much, but I found Rambling on the Road to Rome to be a very interesting read. Peter Francis Browne is funny, and gives the reader enough information to make them interested but not too much that we stop caring. His account of his walk (and ride) from Touls to Rome is intriguing, humorous and enlightening. Anyone looking to visit any of the cities Browne encountered should pick up this book and get his view of the people, the hotels, and the cities in and of themselves.