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Un dollaro mille chilometri
En el transcurso de 1949, Dominique Lapierre emprendió su primera gran aventura: cruzar el Atlántico con una beca de estudios cuyo propósito era motivar a los jóvenes estudiantes a enfrentarse a las dificultades de la vida. Tras un largo recorrido por Estados Unidos, México y Canadá, y varios meses de periplo, el joven Lapierre regresó a Francia y publicó el diario de esta singular andanza para la que recorrió treinta y dos mil kilómetros por toda América, con treinta y dos dólares en el bolsillo.
«Me siento feliz y orgulloso de decirlo: al abrirme las puertas del mundo, al despertar mi curiosidad, al obligarme a superar mis miedos de adolescente, ese primer gran viaje de mi existencia fue el regalo más bello que el cielo podía ofrecerme en el albor de mi destino. Gracias a él pude descubrir horizontes cuya magia nunca más abandonaría mis sueños. Imaginen por un momento tener dieciocho años y encontrarse de repente en medio de tiburones en el Pacífico mexicano, o en un barrio peligroso de Chicago, donde conocí aventuras que se grabaron para siempre en mi memoria. Al vivir las peripecias que se narran en este breve relato, al recorrer las carreteras del delirante itinerario que me llevó al otro extremo del planeta cuando no era más que un joven estudiante de secundaria, sentí que nacía en mi interior la vocación de trotamundos».
DOMINIQUE LAPIERRE.
«Me siento feliz y orgulloso de decirlo: al abrirme las puertas del mundo, al despertar mi curiosidad, al obligarme a superar mis miedos de adolescente, ese primer gran viaje de mi existencia fue el regalo más bello que el cielo podía ofrecerme en el albor de mi destino. Gracias a él pude descubrir horizontes cuya magia nunca más abandonaría mis sueños. Imaginen por un momento tener dieciocho años y encontrarse de repente en medio de tiburones en el Pacífico mexicano, o en un barrio peligroso de Chicago, donde conocí aventuras que se grabaron para siempre en mi memoria. Al vivir las peripecias que se narran en este breve relato, al recorrer las carreteras del delirante itinerario que me llevó al otro extremo del planeta cuando no era más que un joven estudiante de secundaria, sentí que nacía en mi interior la vocación de trotamundos».
DOMINIQUE LAPIERRE.
- GenresNonfiction
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
About the author
Dominique Lapierre
58 books363 followersDominique Lapierre was born in Châtelaillon-Plage, Charente-Maritime, France. At the age of thirteen, he travelled to America with his father who was a diplomat (Consul General of France). He attended the Jesuit school in New Orleans and became a paper boy for the "New Orleans Item". He developed interests in travelling, writing and cars and later traveled across the United States as a young man.
In the early 1950s Lapierre was conscripted into the French army. After one year in a tank regiment, he was transferred to SHAPE headquarters to serve as an interpreter. There he met a young American Army corporal, Larry Collins, a Yale graduate and draftee. They became instant friends. When Collins was discharged he was offered a job with Procter & Gamble. Two days before reporting to work, the United Press offered him a job as caption writer at their Paris office, for much less money than offered by Procter & Gamble. Collins accepted the offer and was soon picked up by Newsweek to be their correspondent in the Middle East. When Lapierre was discharged, he found work as a reporter for the magazine Paris Match. Several years later they decided to join forces to tell a big story which would appeal to both French and anglophone audiences. Their first bestseller Is Paris Burning? sold close to ten million copies in thirty languages. In this book they mixed the modern technique of investigation journalism with the classical methods of historical research.
After that they spent four years in Jerusalem to reconstruct the birth of the State of Israel for the book O Jerusalem!. Lapierre is proud that after spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem he knows each alley, square, street, and building in the Holy City intimately.
Two of Lapierre's books – Is Paris Burning? (co-written with Larry Collins) and City of Joy – have been made into films. Lapierre and Collins wrote several other books together before Collins' death in 2005.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the 2008 Republic Day honors list.
In the early 1950s Lapierre was conscripted into the French army. After one year in a tank regiment, he was transferred to SHAPE headquarters to serve as an interpreter. There he met a young American Army corporal, Larry Collins, a Yale graduate and draftee. They became instant friends. When Collins was discharged he was offered a job with Procter & Gamble. Two days before reporting to work, the United Press offered him a job as caption writer at their Paris office, for much less money than offered by Procter & Gamble. Collins accepted the offer and was soon picked up by Newsweek to be their correspondent in the Middle East. When Lapierre was discharged, he found work as a reporter for the magazine Paris Match. Several years later they decided to join forces to tell a big story which would appeal to both French and anglophone audiences. Their first bestseller Is Paris Burning? sold close to ten million copies in thirty languages. In this book they mixed the modern technique of investigation journalism with the classical methods of historical research.
After that they spent four years in Jerusalem to reconstruct the birth of the State of Israel for the book O Jerusalem!. Lapierre is proud that after spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem he knows each alley, square, street, and building in the Holy City intimately.
Two of Lapierre's books – Is Paris Burning? (co-written with Larry Collins) and City of Joy – have been made into films. Lapierre and Collins wrote several other books together before Collins' death in 2005.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the 2008 Republic Day honors list.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 28, 2017
Lo leí en 3 días! Aparte de que no está muy largo, fue porque me enganchó rápido y me encantó y me gustaría algún día escribir un libro así. Junto con Javier Moro, es mi escritor favorito, y este fue el primer libro que escribió.
Su libro La ciudad de la alegría es de los mas hermosos que he leído y este no se queda atrás.
Su libro La ciudad de la alegría es de los mas hermosos que he leído y este no se queda atrás.
June 15, 2025
El primer libro que escribe el que luego sería súper exitoso periodista y escritor Dominique Lapierre cuando apenas tenia 17 años y que narra el viaje iniciático que le llevará desde su Francia natal a Mexico, EEUU y Canadá en 1949, con solo ¡30 dólares en el bolsillo! y tras ganar un concurso estudiantil.
Demostrará a largo del viaje y del relato su iniciativa, desparpajo y capacidad para improvisar soluciones y buscar aliados en situaciones variopintas, más o menos complicadas.
Desde luego, también se percibe ya su capacidad para escribir de una manera fácil - clara, esencial, con ritmo - y que atrapa, puesto que se lee en un periquete.
Demostrará a largo del viaje y del relato su iniciativa, desparpajo y capacidad para improvisar soluciones y buscar aliados en situaciones variopintas, más o menos complicadas.
Desde luego, también se percibe ya su capacidad para escribir de una manera fácil - clara, esencial, con ritmo - y que atrapa, puesto que se lee en un periquete.
January 4, 2016
Non è minimamente paragonabile a La città della gioia, per intensità quanto per scrittura, ma se si pensa che è un libro scritto da un ragazzino che ha da poco percorso 30.000 km praticamente senza soldi è comunque interessante.
Fa capire la spensieratezza di un ragazzo che affronta il mondo e la vita così come viene, godendosela e senza pensare torppo all'avvenire. Cercando di raccimolare soldi, passaggi, pasti e pernottamenti con un'intelligenza incredibile. Con il suo ripetere continuamente "E la vita è bella" mette bene in chiaro che era felice pur senza soldi, senza lavoro ma anche senza preoccupazioni.
Fa capire la spensieratezza di un ragazzo che affronta il mondo e la vita così come viene, godendosela e senza pensare torppo all'avvenire. Cercando di raccimolare soldi, passaggi, pasti e pernottamenti con un'intelligenza incredibile. Con il suo ripetere continuamente "E la vita è bella" mette bene in chiaro che era felice pur senza soldi, senza lavoro ma anche senza preoccupazioni.
October 1, 2026
Tutti i libri di Lapierre sono buoni, questo, anche se è il suo primo libro, fa vedere il suo talento per la scrittura di viaggi e avventure. Senza un soldo in tasca lui è riuscito ad andare in Messsico e a tornare, con tante avventure e viaggi in mezzo. E tutto questo all'età di 17 anni.
August 12, 2017
Con esto se apagan mis deseos de ser mochilero. Buen libro, muestra un antiguo México.
February 6, 2022
El libro es entretenido, aunque no es algo que yo suela leer, es bueno para pasar el rato y te anima a querer explorar
July 5, 2022
Una novela sencilla de un roadtrip por ride.
December 29, 2023
A good book, easy to read. Inspirational!
April 25, 2024
Che leggerezza (quasi naif) in quei giovani pieni di libertà, coraggio e indipendenza, che purtroppo ai nostri giovani non insegniamo più
April 24, 2025
Increïbles les aventures i súper entretingut
September 12, 2012
Con i pochi soldi di una borsa di studio, Dominique, giovane liceale, affronta con entusiasmo un viaggio da Parigi a Città del Messico.
Una storia che si legge volentieri, ma senza la profondità e il coinvolgimento di La città della gioia.
Una storia che si legge volentieri, ma senza la profondità e il coinvolgimento di La città della gioia.
November 16, 2010
bello, ma non mi convince del tutto... penso che la colpa sia dell'edizione tascabile: ogni volta che il protagonista si trovava di fronte ad un problema dopo due righe trovava la soluzione...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews