Alexander Frater

Frater narrates an eccentric journey following the commencement of the Monsoon (the annual rains) from the South to the far North East of India. On the way he has a great deal to say about the weather, of India and its people. The real strength of this account is Frater's ability to connect with Indians, and to observe their observations of him, and of his quest. It's an immersive account, this is possible as close an impression of Indian life you could possibly get without actually being show more there. The beauty of it of course is that it doesn't strain or over-reach itself. There's a lightness of touch and even imprecision that reflects the actual experience of anyone travelling in another culture - and India particularly. It is a masterpiece of travel writing.

But it's not just an account of a journey across India, but also one of Frater's life, connecting a childhood growing up in the South Pacific to his final destination in India, and a lifelong fascination with weather. The threads of this story within the story are equally fascinating, and revealed with wonderful delicacy, piece by piece as Frater makes his way across India, leaving the reader to wonder if this wasn't the main story after all and wishing for more.

There is only one other account of travelling through India that I have read that comes anywhere near to this, and that is Michael Wood's 'The Smile of Murugan: A South India Journey'. I recommend both very highly. show less

This is, without doubt, the most fascinating travelogue I have ever read. Frater follows the monsoon from its genesis in Kerala up to Cherrapunji in Assam, the wettest place on earth: in the process, he gives fascinating insights about India, the monsoon, India the monsoon (a strange entity!) and human nature in general. His writing is wryly humorous (without being sarcastic) and sympathetic at the same time.

Being from Kerala, I know and love the monsoon. So it was all the more enjoyable for show more me. As I read the book, I could almost smell the smell of the first rains on parched soil, what we call "the smell of new earth".

Highly recommended. show less

This book originated in a series of articles commissioned by the Editor of "The Observer" (London). While the author admits he had little previous interest in British railways he has the happy knack of getting people to talk to him about their interests. The book gives a fascinating insight into the neglected by-ways of British Rail, both as it was in the 1980's and as it was remembered by the drivers and staff, many with recollections of fathers and grandfathers who had also worked on the show more railways. All but one of the journeys described are in the north of England or in Scotland, the exception being "London's rural railway" from Broad Street to Richmond. The photographs are charming (both the historic and those specially taken) and the book itself, though indifferently designed, is a memorial to one aspect of British rural life in the 20th century. show less

This little book is an extract from "Beyond the Blue Horizon" by Alexander Frater (1987), who was Chief Travel Correspondent for The Guardian newspaper. It is an excellent read, giving a flavour of flying in different passenger aircraft from Dhaka to Singapore, stopping at various places on the way - his ultimate destination was Australia. As one might expect, his observations of people and places are priceless.