Riding the Iron Rooster: By Train Through China

PaulTheroux,theauthorofthetraintravelclassicsTheGreatRailwayBazaarandTheOldPatagonianExpress,takestotherailsonceagaininthisaccountofhisepicjourneythroughChina.HehopsaboardaspartofatourgroupinLondonandsetsoutforChina'sborder.Hethenspendsayeartraversingthecountry,wherehepiecestogetherafascinatingsnapshotofauniquemomentinhistory.FromthebarrendesertsofXinjiangtotheiceforestsofManchuria,fromthedensemetropolisesofShanghai,Beijing,andCantontothedryhillsofTibet,Therouxoffersanunforgettableportraitofamagnificentlandandanextraordinarypeople.InthebestsellingnovelTheMosquitoCoast,Therouxtookreadersintothedarkheartofthehumansoul.InthenonfictiontitleTheGreatRailwayBazaar,hetookthemtothefarcornersoftheworld.Now,heembarksonanunforgettablejourneyintoenigmaticpost-CulturalRevolutionChinaforthemostbeguilingbookonAsiasincetheadventuresofMarcoPolo.