Pirates, Cults, and Druggies in the Third World

June 23, 2009 1:04 PM

Travel writing recommendations that compare with the work of Kevin Rushby?

I've loved all of the Kevin Rushby books that I've read (Hunting Pirate Heaven, Eating the Flowers of Paradise, Children of Kali, and Chasing the Mountain of Light) and would love to find books in a similar vein.*

Rushby writes and travels from the perspective of a historian/archaelogist interested in pirates, cults, and recreational drug use - with a focus on the second and third worlds.

I know I won't find another good writer probing this exact niche - but I would love some suggestions of travel writers that can tie an interesting narrative/quest to off the beaten path travel.

Help me Metafilter!



*I've toyed with reading Redmond O'Hanlon - but I have not raised enough gumption to give him a try.

posted by cinemafiend to writing & language (6 comments total)

Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks is pretty interesting, and an entertaining read.

If something less humorous, and with a more historical historical angle takes your fancy, then try A Stranger in Tibet: The Adventures of a Wandering Zen Monk, I found it to be a fascinating book, a very unusual tale about Tibet.
posted by Admira at 4:03 PM on June 23

Coming Into The Country by John McPhee is about life in rural Alaska and the non-native people who are drawn to settle there.
posted by birdwatcher at 4:24 PM on June 23

I've now added all of these titles to my queue at the library - if anyone has more along these lines throw 'em at me...
posted by cinemafiend at 8:12 PM on June 23

Just be warned: Neither of the books I recommended feature Pirates, Cults or Druggies (well not prominently anyway!)
posted by Admira at 9:50 PM on June 23

Maybe have a look at Clandestines: The Pirate Journals of an Irish Exile. While it isn't about Pirates, Cults or Druggies per se either, it may have the feel you're looking for.

Also check your memail.
posted by Skyanth at 1:16 AM on June 24

Just a head's up Skyanth sent me a link to her boyfriend's book that happens to fall under the subject heading of the title of this thread:

The Devil's Anarchy: The Other Loose and Roving Way of Life and Very Remarkable Travels of Jan Erasmus Reyning, Buccaneer

Looks promising. Skyanth did not want to post the book because of the appearance of self-linking - but I say phooey... anyone interested in this thread will likely be interested in that book.

Thanks all -
posted by cinemafiend at 4:54 PM on June 24