Figures in a Landscape by Paul Theroux

Figures in a Landscape by Paul Theroux

"A portrait of an optimist with curiosity and affection for humanity in all its forms."--The New York Times Book Review

"Theroux is at the top of his game with his third collection of essays, a magisterial grouping of intimate remembrances, globe-trotting adventures, and incisive literary critiques."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Theroux's observations are so keen and writerly skills so sharp that he butter-slices narratives with a razor-thin surgeon's scalpel, masterfully serving up both the world's dark underbelly and its gloriously uplifting sustenance of love, longing and wonder-lust." --Forbes

Paul Theroux's latest collection of essays applies his signature searching curiosity to a life lived as much in reading as on the road. This writerly tour-de-force features a satisfyingly varied selection of topics. Travel essays take us to Ecuador, Zimbabwe, and Hawaii, to name a few. Gems of literary criticism reveal fascinating depth in the work of Henry David Thoreau, Muriel Spark, Joseph Conrad, and Hunter Thompson. And in a series of breathtakingly personal profiles, we take a helicopter ride with Elizabeth Taylor, go diagnosing with Oliver Sacks, eavesdrop on the day-to-day life of a Manhattan dominatrix, and explore New York with Robin Williams.

An extended meditation on the craft of writing binds together this wide-ranging collection, along with Theroux's constant quest for the authentic in a person or in a place.

This remarkable collection explores the intersection of life, literature, and travel:

• Literary Criticism: Deep dives into the works and lives of giants like Joseph Conrad, Henry David Thoreau, and Hunter S. Thompson.
• Celebrity Encounters: A helicopter ride with Elizabeth Taylor over Neverland, a walk through New York with Robin Williams, and a firsthand look at Oliver Sacks's 'street neurology.'
• Travel Essays: Unforgettable journeys from a search for Ayahuasca in Ecuador to the backroads of Zimbabwe and the islands of Hawaii.
• The Craft of Writing: A masterclass on the life of a freelance writer, bound together by an extended meditation on what it means to write truthfully about the world.