Customer Reviews

The Gentleman in the Parlour: A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong (Armchair Traveller)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Gentleman in the Parlour is a supurb book on Maughams travels in Southeast Asia before the second world war. Anyone who carries with them that sence of romance and adventure of when that part of the world did not have the tallest buildings and the best hotels should take this with them as a travel companion, or just enjoy it in an armchair. The highlights are his detailed discription of his trek to Angor Wat. If the reader doesnt already know that Angor Wat is one of the half dozen great man made wonders will be throughly educated. His discriptions of French Indochina (Vietnam) are particularly vivid. Especially Hue`and Haiphong. There are misfits and opiem eaters and wandering expats as well as the hotels he helped make famous. Raffle's, The Oriental and The Strand. This goes in my backpack with "The Quiet American" and "The Great Railway Bazzar." And I travelled this area in 64,73,86,and97. Also Maugham's "On a Chinese Screen" is worth it.

This is a Great book. A classic of travel writing that provides the dual treat of describing exotic settings and a host of fascinating characters encountered along the way.