One Man Caravan

by Robert Edison Fulton

This adventurous work records Robert Edison Fulton's solo round-the-world tour on a two-cylinder Douglas motorcycle between July, 1932 and December, 1933. First published in 1937.

Genres: Travel, Motorcycle, Nonfiction, History, Motorcycling, Adventure, Travelogue

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1937

Reviews

[Michael Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of motorcycle travel log stories. They generally fall into two categories. The first is the turn-by-turn/place-to-place/point-to-point type where the author recounts where they are coming from, have been, and are going to go. I find these pretty tedious and hard to get through because I can read a map and don't need a description of a travel route unless I'm planning a trip myself. The other type tell the stories of the places visited. It's been said that they adventure in a trip is told through the delays and unexpected turns that take place on trip, not the trip that was planned. Robert Fulton does a masterful job of cutting out the trivial day to day log of his trip and focuses on the unexpected delays and destinations in his travels. Fulton writes about his experiences in an informal way as if you where sitting around campfire along his route listening to him share his adventure with you. There are plenty of outrageous and funny moments as well as scary and enchanting scenes described eloquently. For me, having read so many more modern travel adventure stories I was intrigued by the difference in the countries and places Fulton rode through, as well as some countries that no longer exist. Wonderful stories and a fun read, I highly recommend this book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a story is great not because of what happened, but the surrounding details. In this case, it's the point in time. Robert Fulton rode his motorcycle around the world in 1930, and wrote his book in 1937, all right before World War II. He amazingly had very little trouble through Europe, the Middle East, Asia. It was only when he got back to the United States that his motorcycle was stolen, but thankfully recovered a week later. I also think this was probably the last time in history that the world was actually separated with regional societies and lifestyles.

Based on the time, I expected many racial slurs and such, however there were surprisingly few "natives" and "savages". This speaks to Mr. Fulton's character and his desire to really explore the world and learn about different people and cultures. He was a humble man. I looked up his history later and found he came from an incredibly accomplished and wealthy background. Mr. Fulton went on to accomplish many incredible things for the rest of his life.

[Iain Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just for motorcyclists

Coincidence, good luck, humour, determination, and an eye for both the unusual and for detail propel the author around the world from London to New York on a gifted motorcycle.
It is both a ripping yarn and a reflection upon what it is to be human and a stranger in even stranger lands.

[Tamara Curtin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If at any time you feel like an adventurous badass, read a chapter or two of this book to get brought back down to earth.

Of course I'm biased, having had the tremendous good fortune to have met the author and known his son, an equally adventerous and amazing person.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great adventure story, taking place in a world which was about to change. I was hooked for sure, when author told us he hid a .32 handgun in a space between motorcycle's engine, and a protective plate beneath it.

[Anton Zolotarjov · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great travel book, full of anecdotes of when the world was a little less connected than it is today. A very interesting time piece that today reads almost like a fairy tale. If not for the missing footnotes, explaining some of the local words - would have been a five out of five review from me.

[Rob]

Wonderful story of a young man's journey around the world on a motorcycle in 1932, written without affectation, in which his curiosity, good humour and openness shines through.

[Andrew Gifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Man Caravan is fascinating. A 1936 trip around the world... But the world in 1936 is almost incredible when you look back on it from 2016. The naive attitude of a young American as he passes through Nazi Germany, the colonial mideast, India, and a Japan that "seems every bit like America" is really bizarre at times. Colonialism is good. Finding a white man in uniform at the end of the road is a relief. In Japan, the government is praised - there's a section where the author and his motorcycle enthusiast counterparts in Japan talk about love and unity between Japan and the US. The future seems oddly bright in 1936, and yet the world would soon be on fire. At its heart, this book is a great adventure story. But it's also a portrait of a long dead world that ends up kind of heartbreaking.

[James Crabtree]

A very cool book. On a lark, an American in 1932 decides to driver "around the world" on a motorcycle from London. He starts by having a bike special-built, with an extra fuel reserve, an bottom engine plate and a place to stash a pistol. Then he starts out around the world, traveling through Europe, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, etc. etc., making observations along the way and having a few close calls. He spends time in everything from a Turkish jail to a Indian Army post. Illustrated with photos he took during his trip and a few spot illustrations, the book certainly shows how different the world was back then compared to what it is now.

While not the first person to ride a bike around the world, Fulton's experiences are nonetheless well worth reading about.

[Kelly Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thought of crossing South Asia on a modern motorcycle is daunting--Ewan MacGregor barely made it with two trucks following and two compatriots on new BMWs. The author of this book did it alone in the 1930s on a Douglas twin. This book also provides a fascinating look at the landscape of the middle east pre-WWII when the British Empire was in full swing. For all the bad press the imperialists get, this book makes it seem that they did an admirable job keeping some semblance of order in (then as now) a very unstable part of the world.

[Vivek Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read and kept me engrossed throughout its length. A great adventure by a motorcycling . A rare glimpse of the world in 1932, specially about Afghanistan, India, China and Japan. The worlds a more dangerous place now. Try planing a trip through Pakistan , Afghanistan and Syria. You can but only in Google Maps. Highly recommend 5 stars

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich guy replies to a dare and goes around the world (sort of) on a motorcycle provided and supported by a manufacturer. That's the capsule scenario and there have been others since too. But this version is quite good. Fulton is the genuine article.

His description of Afghanistan could have been written today.

Fulton's tale is engaging, interesting and unpretentious.

[Max Rocca · Rating 5 out of 5]

da leggere per gli amanti non solo dei viaggi ma anche della moto. Un viaggio affascinante anche ormai dimenticato o spesso nascosto agli occhi dei turisti.
Questo é un vero viaggio da duri, vita on the road , tanta vita quotidiana e meno paesaggi, ma cio che conta in questo libro é l'umanità che si incontra.

[Mike The Judge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro coinvolgente, entusiasmante, unico. Un viaggio introspettivo nella vita di ogni motociclista, di ogni uomo che cerca se stesso e la propria libertà. Il focus è' il viaggio con se stessi su due ruote, "What'else?

[Dutcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The long way round without movie stars. Brilliant, vivid, terrific adventure.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guy graduates Harvard and rides around the world on a motorcycle just for the hell of it. In 1930 something.

[Mark Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.godofthunder.co.uk/robert-...

[Khorrassany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing motorcycle diaries where borders wasn't the issue.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Loved it!