Ghost Riders

Richard Grant has never spent more than twenty-two consecutive nights under the same roof. Motivated partly by his own wanderlust and partly by his realisation that America is a land populated by wanderers, he set out to test his theory. AMERICAN NOMADS is the extraordinary result. 'Freedom is impossible and meaningless within the confines of sedentary society, the only true freedom is the freedom to cross the land, beholden to no one'. Grant follows the trails of the first European to wander across the American West (a failed conquistador); joins a group of rodeo-competing cowboys (and gets thrown by a mechanical bull); tells the story of the vanishing nomadic Indians and links up with 300,000 'gerito gypsies' - old people who live and travel in their RVs (Recreational Vehicles).

'When all is said and done, there are two types of men: those who stay at home and those who do not' Kipling. This is the story of those that 'did not' who are populated - and are still travelling - in America.

Winner of Thomas Cook Travel Awards 2004 (UK)

“Erudite & street-smart... that rare thing: a travel writer who not only amuses & informs but also reappraises a well trodden landscape with brio & originality - MAIL ON S.Fascinating . . . [Grant] brings to light a range of darkly romantic wanderers who strayed from the American mainstream while exemplifying the American Dream - OBSERVER ....the freshest travel book on the US in a long time & one of the best short entrees to its history & culture - TLSWonderful...the people he talks to are allowed to speak for themselves, and there are many extraordinary stories...a thrilling read - THE TIMES”

Erudite & street-smart... that rare thing: a travel writer who not only amuses & informs but also reappraises a well trodden landscape with brio & originality - MAIL ON S.

Fascinating . . . [Grant] brings to light a range of darkly romantic wanderers who strayed from the American mainstream while exemplifying the American Dream - OBSERVER

....the freshest travel book on the US in a long time & one of the best short entrees to its history & culture - TLS

Wonderful...the people he talks to are allowed to speak for themselves, and there are many extraordinary stories...a thrilling read - THE TIMES

Richard Grant has written extensively for the GUARDIAN, ESQUIRE, GQ, the OBSERVER etc.

Richard Grant has never spent more than twenty-two consecutive nights under the same roof. Motivated partly by his own wanderlust and partly by his realisation that America is a land populated by wanderers, he set out to test his theory. AMERICAN NOMADS is the extraordinary result. 'Freedom is impossible and meaningless within the confines of sedentary society, the only true freedom is the freedom to cross the land, beholden to no one'. Grant follows the trails of the first European to wander across the American West (a failed conquistador); joins a group of rodeo-competing cowboys (and gets thrown by a mechanical bull); tells the story of the vanishing nomadic Indians and links up with 300,000 'gerito gypsies' - old people who live and travel in their RVs (Recreational Vehicles).'When all is said and done, there are two types of men: those who stay at home and those who do not' Kipling. This is the story of those that 'did not' who are populated - and are still travelling - in America.

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