Full Tilt

Ireland to India with a Bicycle

By: Dervla Murphy

Narrated by: Emma Lowe

Full Tilt is the inspiring true story of Dervla Murphy's 1963 journey from Ireland to India on an Armstrong Cadet bicycle, and the trials, landscapes, and cultures she encountered along the way. The route takes her through the valleys and snowy mountain passes of Europe and India to the scorching deserts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the metal of her bicycle, Rozinante (named after Don Quixote's steed), becomes too hot to touch. She travels alone, without luxuries, sleeping on the floors of teahouses or on blankets outdoors, vulnerable to wild animals, insects, and thieves. However, she is often met with generosity and kindness, and shares many meaningful encounters with the locals. Her portrayal here gives a fascinating insight into the unique communities of the Middle East in the early 1960s.

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A joyous journey

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It made me so happy to hear that so many people in the world are so kind!

estando en un lugar tbn viajé

que buena aventura, que valiente! dan ganas de preparar la bici y pedalear por esa ruta.

Her calm and appreciative viewpoint

It was great but a bit too descriptive at times of the sky and clouds that did not matter.

Delightful adventure book

The author writes with good humor and sensitive humanity about her adventures and the people she meets along the way. As for the us of the term “pathetic “ to describe the beggars with leprosy, it’s clear that she means this in the original sense of the term as “arousing pity,” not as a pejorative.

Bicycling Adventure from a bygone era.

Dervla’s cycling efforts and observations are a welcomed window into a time when women weren’t ‘supposed’ to cycle across continents by themselves.

She describes the dangers & wonderful blessings through an engaging first person narrative with rich details that make you believe you are looking over her shoulder for the entire length of her adventure.

This book might just give you the encouragement you need to go on your own months long bicycling trip.

Good book overall

An admirable example of adventure, determination, and learning - somewhat tedious story telling, punctuated with interesting and perhaps still current examples on the various countries she visited.

makes you feel like you are there

such a well written and narrated book. the story is mesmerizing and will give readers and experience of the region like no other. great for all of us with adventurous spirits

Brilliant

I really really enjoyed this story

What an amazing woman and amazing story

The narration is excellent and through the storyelling I could almost smell the dust and see the mountains

Dervla had a remarkable life and I heard this book recommended to me when I heard of her death and I could hardly wait to listen to it every chance I got

Travels, people, locations and experiences very interesting

Murphy’s experiences, fortitude, intelligence, and sensitivity were remarkable. The hardships she endured and overcame were both miraculous and believable. The ending was abrupt I was expecting a continuation or conclusion. Her bicycle journey was a remarkable and inspiring saga.

Give us more Dervla Murphy!

I wish this were required reading for all young people; inspiring for any age.