Known for his wry wit, Theroux seems to have had an exceptionally good time on his tour of the Mediterranean. He sets off from Gibraltar by foot, horseback, train and boat along the coast of Spain to the French Riviera, Sardinia, Sicily and beyond. This masterful book combines anecdote, history and observation into a revealing portrait of place. He ends his journey at the other pillar, Jebel Musa, just across the Straits outside Ceuta in North Africa.  (MED20, $17.00)

The 86 Greatest Travel Books of All Time
Mediterranean Cruises & Islands
Paul Theroux