Episode Two
Colin Thubron
In his 80th year, one of the most important travel writers of our time journeys along the Amur River — 1,100 miles, much of it on the China-Russia border. Sophy and Colin talk about their obsession with remote Siberia, and how to avoid (or avert) the gaze of the FSB.
Released 03.02.23
The Conversation
In this episode, Sophy and Colin discuss his journey along the Amur River, running from northeast Mongolia, through Siberia, and along the Russia-China border before arcing north into the Sea of Okhotsk.
They talk about what it takes for travel literature to stand the test of time; about Bruce Chatwin and Jonathan Raban and the lines between fact and fiction. They discuss the lure of the unfamiliar — a lifelong obsession — and the on-the-ground reality of a border between two of the world’s superpowers. In between, they share their experiences of the logistical challenges of remote travel: transport, visas, interpreters. They finish with their thoughts on the future of travel writing in a rapidly evolving world.
Colin’s latest book, The Amur River: Between Russia and China, is published by Chatto & Windus. His 1999 book, In Siberia, is published by Vintage and reads as an excellent companion.
Books discussed:
Colin Thubron
- The Amur River: Between Russia and China
- In Siberia
Robert Byron
- The Road to Oxiana
Bruce Chatwin
- The Songlines
- In Patagonia
Anton Chekhov
- Sakhalin Island
Paul Clements
- Jan Morris: Life From Both Sides
Patrick Leigh Fermor
- Mani: Travels in the Southern Peloponnese
Jan Morris
- Venice
Redmond O’Hanlon
- Into the Heart of Borneo
Jonathan Raban
- Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings
Paul Theroux
- The Great Railway Bazaar
You can order these books from John Sandoe Books here.
