Rating: 
Summary: Halliburton's best? Could be...
Review: Adventure, romance, and a time capsule of our own world from the 1920s are presented here by a very young, enthusiastic Richard Halliburton. This carefree, often reckless adventure is my favorite of the stories chronicled by Halliburton.
Rating:
Summary: Fifty years and this book still sticks with me
Review: As a child in Paris in the early 50's it was tough finding English-language books to read. Now and then my Dad would take me to a small library at the American embassy to check out books, and it was there he urged me to read Richard Halliburton. In my mind's eye I can still see that big thick book and the photo of Halliburton in front of the Taj Mahal.
Hardly anyone knows his name today, but in the 1930's Halliburton's name was well-known and his travel/adventure books were best sellers. My dad had read them in the depths of the Depression and they'd engendered in him a thirst for travel, which he fulfilled many times over with a career in the airline industry.
I guess the same thing happened to me when I read "The Royal Road to Romance" around 1952 and was permanently bitten by the travel bug. I was surfing around the net tonight and ran across a story on Richard Halliburton and thought I'd check to see if any of his books were still in print. I was quite surprised to see they are and people are still reading him.
Give this book to a kid with dreams, or read it yourself. Any book that sticks with you for 52 years has got to be very special.
Rating:
Summary: Remember your youth while you have it
Review: As a five year expatriate who's home will always be Memphis, I felt like I was reading the words of a long lost little brother from a prior existance. I read this book a year ago while briefly home in northwest Mississippi, as a friend of my fathers suggested it. Sure, the way he treats some of the locals make me want to pull his hair or tell him to go sit in the corner, but the "big picture" is simply that of a naive 22 year old whose eyes are in awe of the possibilities offered him and the romantic beauty of the road. Halliburton chooses instead of a deluxe trip through Europe paid for by his parents, to instead
"starve and try to carve a future of his own" (Kristofferson) and, for such, my hat is off to the kid. So many people hit the road to "say they've done it", and certainly not all but many become cynical and judgemental and when I meet these
"intellectuals" i just want to tell them to go home and leave the road for the optimists like Richard Halliburton.
A prior-poster has somewhat critisized Halliburton for returning home with the same grab-life-by-the-balls attitude that he left with. However, I feel that is the highest praise and is a hell of a lot better than returning home to share one's cynical wisdom with whoever is bored enough to sit there and nod. The road did not make Halliburton wise and old before his time but, rather, kept him naive and young after his time.
*** Incidentally, I found myself roaming the Ruins of Ankhor in Cambodia a couple months ago, and this place has Halliburton all over it. At the time I was there, I could not recall whether he had gone but, in reading some reviews, I now know why I kept thinking to myself as I climbed about the ruins "I'm sure Richard Halliburton came here! I can almost feel his presence..." I suggest this book to anyone who loves independent travel and youthful observation, but I discourage it to anyone who feels they've "seen it all"...
Rating:
Summary: A LASTING IMPRESSION
Review: As a young boy raised on a farm in Pennsylvania, Richard Halliburton had a
great influence on me. His writing changed my whole outlook on life. Harold Stephens
Rating:
Summary: Halliburtons adventures are ageless and for all ages
Review: As a young girl in the early fourties I had read my father's copy of Royal Road To Romance and wanted my grandchildren to share these wonderful adventures and travels to places we can only visit in our minds. When I couldn't find his copy I started a search of used book stores and libraries without luck. Last year a dear friend found an original edition and gave me this precious gift. I hope Royal Road To Romance is republished so I can buy copies for my children and grandchildren.
Rating:
Summary: change my life's course
Review: As israeli the book The royal road to romance, was the first english written book I ever read compleetly. Once I captured the essence of its spirit I never left it again. It set the general course of my life, proving the theory that first book a child reads will have tremendous effect on his lifes future. The simple truth of this book so shaked me that I became restless eversince. In order to release myself from its magic spell, exploded from ambitions I set myself,on 1974, on a personal Around the world trip which latter entered the Guinness book of world records (Hebrew edition) as the longest (253,934 km) around the world trip. I did it mostly by hitchiking with help of 1529 different vhicles. I did it that way in order to be, like Richard, always close to new friends and cultures. As Halliburton I spent night on top of Cheops pyramide, the Devils island and far more srange outposts than him. after climbing Mt. Fuji I felt I will never attempt such altitude again. But even than I knew his sometimes weird achivements will ever overshadow mine. Constant drive to chalange his bodis limits always frightened me. Whenever I come to an exotic place I asked myself what Richard would plot in such place? He prooved what young man can reach the seventh heaven if he funnel his sex energies to more constructive way. Especially in times when boundries was more virtual than real, and suspicion among fellow beings came always after givving help and use of humor, not before. Along my way I met other guy (one from Memphis) who traveled with Halliburtons myth as compas. We share togather ideas that the impression of that book will make it easily the Bible of our life. Today as a modern Wandering Jew with only one passport that so many contries like to refuse entry I tried to establish myself and forget traveling, but I feel that the battle is lost because in the other hand I keep folowing the conclusions of this memorable book which always lie near my bed. Whatever happened I jealouse Halliburton that unlike my bad luck he found happy publishers to have his talles get printed
Rating:
Summary: change my life's course
Review: As israeli the book The royal road to romance, was the first english written book I ever read compleetly. Once I captured the essence of its spirit I never left it again. It set the general course of my life, proving the theory that first book a child reads will have tremendous effect on his lifes future. The simple truth of this book so shaked me that I became restless eversince. In order to release myself from its magic spell, exploded from ambitions I set myself,on 1974, on a personal Around the world trip which latter entered the Guinness book of world records (Hebrew edition) as the longest (253,934 km) around the world trip. I did it mostly by hitchiking with help of 1529 different vhicles. I did it that way in order to be, like Richard, always close to new friends and cultures. As Halliburton I spent night on top of Cheops pyramide, the Devils island and far more srange outposts than him. after climbing Mt. Fuji I felt I will never attempt such altitude again. But even than I knew his sometimes weird achivements will ever overshadow mine. Constant drive to chalange his bodis limits always frightened me. Whenever I come to an exotic place I asked myself what Richard would plot in such place? He prooved what young man can reach the seventh heaven if he funnel his sex energies to more constructive way. Especially in times when boundries was more virtual than real, and suspicion among fellow beings came always after givving help and use of humor, not before. Along my way I met other guy (one from Memphis) who traveled with Halliburtons myth as compas. We share togather ideas that the impression of that book will make it easily the Bible of our life. Today as a modern Wandering Jew with only one passport that so many contries like to refuse entry I tried to establish myself and forget traveling, but I feel that the battle is lost because in the other hand I keep folowing the conclusions of this memorable book which always lie near my bed. Whatever happened I jealouse Halliburton that unlike my bad luck he found happy publishers to have his talles get printed
Rating:
Summary: Opened my eyes to the world
Review: At my school, when one acted up in class,we were sent to the libary until we could behave.I don't remember what I done in class to deserve this punishment,but it must have been my lucky day it was then that I discovered Richard Halliburton. The Royal Road To Romance fired my imagination; I traveled to the seven wonders of the world with Mr Halliburton. This incident was forty some years ago,but it is still one of the highlights of my life. I am now ready to retire, and I intend to visit in reality what up to now has been just a dream. Thank you Mr Halliburton, Your spirit will be with me.
Rating: 
Summary: A book that should go out of print
Review: Even making allowances for this author's era (1900-1939), this book is of interest only to those who would appreciate an overblown, treacly book by writer who obviously viewed the world from his privileged white background. A graduate of Princeton, he dallies at being a deck hand, but carries in his pocket a letter of introduction from the owners of the shipline. He boasts of striking a train conductor in India for having the audacity to insist that he travel in the third class car with the natives (gasp) since that is the ticket he bought. He berates and then hits with his walking stick an Egyptian guide who dares to touch him as he prepares to view the pyramids. He describes the inhabitants of the countries he visits in various pejoratives terms. He muses, while paddling a 16 year girl in the lake at Udaipur, that of the two virtues in a girl, intelligence or prettiness, obviously only the latter matters. I recently returned from Rajasthan (which included viewing the very same Taj Mahal that Halliburton saw) and thought this book might provide interesting commentary on the places to which I had also travelled. I am sorry I bought this book. Save your money and buy some books written by authors who have travelled the world with more humility and curiousity than this spoiled brash young man who delighted in cheating the railroads, hotels and restaurants he patronized when not sponging off family and college connections who wined and dined him.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Armchair Discovery of Adventure & Romance
Review: Ever wanted to climb the Matterhorn? Swim in the pools of the Taj Mahal? Find the forgotten palaces of Angkor? Pirates, jungles, princesses, snakes, tigers, and native cultures obscure and forgotten - this 1920s traveler has enough adventures to amaze and delight well into the next century. As a child I found Halliburton's BOOK OF MARVELS, both the Orient and the Occident, and began my own personal quest to learn more geography and history and the adventure that goes along with it. Later, as I looked for my own copies I stumbled across this volume, and have scoured the net and bookstores for copies for friends. Absolutely delighted to see it reprinted. If ever I have the opportunity to really travel, some of Halliburton's destinations will be at the top of the list.
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