5 cult travel books that still have a lot to say

There is no better way to warm up on cold autumn evenings than with a cup of tea and a good book. OBOZREVATEL has collected for you 5 cult travel stories that still have a lot to say.

The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron

This book is a great example of how an ordinary adventure can become a lifelong endeavor. Robert Byron had a dream: to visit the Oxiana River, which flows on the border of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, with a friend. Their journey became the first popular travel novel in the world, and Robert is now considered the founder of travel literature. Although, of course, there were many books about adventures on the road before that, but most of them were based on fiction. This one is a full-fledged reportage with real facts and pictures.

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck, 48, has spent half his life writing books about America. At one point, the writer thought that he was so bored with this topic that he could no longer say anything new. So one day, he packed his bags and set off on a long journey across the country with his poodle Charlie. On the way, they had various interesting adventures that became the basis for a new fascinating story.

Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome Klapka Jerome

This book is one of the best examples of true English humor. The author recounts his memories of a honeymoon trip on the Thames River. However, instead of his wife, there were two respectable gentlemen in the boat. This is a light and entertaining story filled with jokes, adventures, and interesting descriptions of the journey.

Into the Wild Jon Krakauer

Another example of how a small journalistic article can grow into a large research project. In 1992, Jon Krakauer learned the story of a man who sold all his possessions, gave the money to charity, and went to live as a hermit in Alaska. Unfortunately, it didn't end well, as the eccentric died alone. The reporter made a story about it for one publication and received so many letters from readers that he was simply forced to continue writing about this case. This is how the documentary book about Chris McCandless' interesting and tragic journey appeared.

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

One of the most famous books about traveling, Around the World in 80 Days, concludes the selection. The adventure novel tells the story of an Englishman, Phileas Fogg, who said he would travel around the globe in 80 days. Interestingly, the novel is based on the real-life story of the American traveler George Francis Train.