Bill Bryson eat your heart out (Continental Drifter - Tim Moore)

Member Name: gillyman

Product:	Continental Drifter - Tim Moore
Date:	21/07/03 (52 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Laugh out loud funny, very well observed

Disadvantages: Do not buy if you want a traditional guide book

"I cannot remember laughing as much at a travel book since reading his previous one" - The Sunday Times.

His previous one, as I'm sure you'll remember was "Frost on my moustache" and also constituted his first one. If you don't remember - feel free to refresh yourselves by reading my very useful (but apparently undeserving of a crown) review!!

Tim Moore finds himself being continuously hailed as "the new Bill Bryson". If you like anything that Bryson has written you will certainly find yourself chortling away at Moore too. As opposed to Bryson however, who tends to just wander from place to place without any connection between his wanderings (other than the excellent "Walk in the Woods", Moore chooses some sort of theme to his wanderings. As in "Frost", he follows in the footsteps of a historical figure, in this case Thomas Coryate who's 1608 trip to Venice and back was the precursor to what was to become known as the Grand Tour; an accepted way for the British Upper Classes to ponce around Europe under the pretence of studying its culture whilst actually enjoying its women, viniculture and gastronomy.

Merely plodding around Europe is not enough for Moore however. In commemoration of the Tour, he decides that it would best be done in an appropriate carriage and something approximating period dress. Thus we find him setting out for the continent in a purple velvet suit behind the wheel of a somewhat elderly Rolls Royce, both of which, unsurprisingly attract much comment throughout.

Although I found Drifter in my local branch of WHSmith stuck away in the Travel section, this is far from a traditional travel book. If you are looking for tips on the best hotels, pubs, nightlife and what currency to take with you then this is not for you. No hang on a second - this is for you - but you'll need to grab a copy of Lonely Planet or some such similar too.

Moore
traces the path of Coryate, who emerges as a somewhat pitiful figure, mocked by the British Nobility to the extent that he decides to do something really interesting - a trip around the continent in the early 17th century usually involved cutting people up and taking over their country so to do it purely in the pursuit of leisure was something new.

The path followed by Moore is one rich in anecdote, filled with amusing descriptions of encounters with the locals and musings on the differences in cultures encountered on the way and how those cultures have changed. He brings to bear a certain very British suspicion of foreigners which occasionally bubbles over into purely jingoistic dislike which although not particulalry politically correct, is extremely amusing. There is certainly plenty of ammunition to be had as he makes his way through France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Belgium equipped with several centuries of historical griefs.

If I am giving the impression that the book is filled with anti Europeanisms then that is erroneous - they merely provide some of its funnier moments (of which there are plenty). Moore often finds himself in awe of the monuments to culture spread before his eyes as did Coryate before him and his descriptive prose evokes some wonderful images.

Moore is a superb wordsmith and the book is heavily with puns - some awfully bad whilst others will have you giggling away to yourself. There is a sharp observation or amusing aside in pretty much every paragraph as he wends his way around Europe. This is first and foremost a book to read just for the fun of it - it will keep a smile on your face and you turning the pages well after you should have turned the lights out and gone to sleep.

A review of his next effort will follow shortly and don't forget to read Fishbulb's crowned review of "Do not pass go" his latest Monopoly based trip. http://members.dooyoo.co.uk/servlets/OpinionC
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