Love for the rails; Paul Theroux’s Travelogues

Abstract

In Paul Theroux’s writings railways do not just provide a background or a theme, but become a functional and structural part of their plot and narration. For Theroux railways offer a cross section of a society . The references in his writings are interesting findings in cultural study. The co-travellers create a temporary cultural aura in the compartment. When the narrator involves in conversation with the co-passengers, he acts as a mediator between the readers and the native. A train is both mobile and stationary at the same time. It is mobile for it takes passengers one place to another, at the same time it offers the traveller a stable platform to observe and socialise. Stating the insignificance of destinations, Theroux invites attention to the ‘being in a train’ experience.