Hunting Mr Heartbreak: A Discovery of America

Jonathan Raban travels to New York, Seattle, and Key West to explore how succeeding generations of newcomers have fared in America, finding a country of contrasts between the Street People and the Air People, small town and big city, and thrusting immigrants and down-at-heel native Americans. He settles in Guntersville, Alabama, for a few months as a good ol' boy in a cabin on the lake, then flies to Seattle, discovering its thrusting but alienated Asian community, and then to Key West. The result is a breathtaking observation of the States.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 336 pages
\n Publication date: 24 May 2018
\n Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd
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Jonathan Raban is a truly exceptional non-fiction writer working today. I am in awe of his remarkable work.

Robert Macfarlane praises Jonathan Raban's writing, describing it as unfailingly witty and entertaining.

Salman Rushdie acknowledges Raban's contribution by following in the footsteps of countless emigrants who have ventured to America. Raban embarks on a journey to explore the experiences of succeeding generations of newcomers in the United States. He encounters a country characterized by vast contrasts, such as the Street People and the Air People in New York, the differences between small towns and big cities, and the interactions between thrusting immigrants and down-at-heel native Americans.

Having outgrown his cramped rented apartment in New York, Raban relocates to Guntersville, Alabama, where he temporarily immerses himself as a "good ol' boy" in a lakeside cabin, renting an elderly lab for companionship. From there, he embarks on a further exploration, flying to Seattle to discover its vibrant but alienated Asian community. He then ventures to Key West, immersing himself in the watery lowlife of the region. The outcome of his journey is a breathtaking observation of the United States, encompassing elements of travelogue, social history, and a sincere love letter to the country. Raban's writing offers a profound and captivating perspective on the States, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

\n Weight: 412g\n
Dimension: 159 x 215 x 22 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781780601373\n \n