Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads

Paul Theroux, author of The Great Railway Bazaar, undertakes a road trip through the Deep South, traveling through Mississippi, South Carolina, and other regions below the Mason-Dixon line. After decades of writing about remote people and distant places around the globe, Theroux turns his attention to rural America for the first time. During his journey, he encounters architectural and artistic landmarks, regional music, and local cuisine. He also documents some of the nation's poorest schools, medical care, housing, and unemployment rates. The book centers on Theroux's conversations with Southern residents—preachers, mayors, quarry workers, and gun show attendees—revealing their lives and perspectives. Through these encounters and observations, Theroux offers a portrait of rural Southern life and the people who inhabit it.