Title: Travels with Maurice: An Outrageous Adventure in Europe in 1968
Author: Gary Orleck
Genre: Memoir, Coming of Age, Friendship, Travel and History of the 60’s
Book Blurb:
A simple “thank you” led to the trip of a lifetime, along with an unbreakable friendship of two opposites. See them come of age while rubbing elbows with the rich and famous like the Shah and Queen of Iran, The Who, Paul McCartney, Brigitte Bardot, and even Shirley Temple Black. An unbelievable story, yet it’s true because nobody could make this story up. Find out things the rich and famous do not want you to know.
"I was pleasantly surprised by this warm-hearted, broken-hearted book, and found myself genuinely quite touched by it. The geo-political study and dark undertone of religious persecution added another dimension to its quality. In fact, I’d go as far to say that, put simply, I believe there is something in this wonderful book which might appeal to all readers, for numerous reasons." —Matt McAvoy 5-Star Book Review
My Review:
Some true tales are told to preserve historically significant facts. This book is a tribute to a man of his times but imminently enjoyable as a read for everyone. I kept being struck that Travels with Maurice was kind of like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous on steroids.
The tales are detailed too much to be invented. It is a simple fact that only living an experience like this can generate a book like this. If like me, then other readers will have never dabbled their toe in such fancy waters. It is incredible to read the escapades.
The key aspects of the story are set between 1966 and 1968 and you get an intimate look at those times. There are laughs, there are tears. This is an incredibly personal account and one that is for the masses to enjoy.
Very well written. This book is a tribute to a man not many of us knew. This book is a homage to a lifestyle view ever enjoyed. A very well-written book that will appeal to all who enjoy a good read. Cannot recommend this book enough.
My Rating: 5 stars
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Author Biography:
In 1965, Gary Orleck graduated from Babson College—a small but outstanding business college with students from around the world—in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and set out along Route 66, working his way around the US for four months. Most helpful was an agreement he had with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company that he could work in any store during his travels, but he could not be paid locally. Instead, his pay was sent to his home later. Gary was well-versed in the tire business because his father owned the largest Goodyear Tire and Service store in New England.
For a young boy from Rhode Island, this was a life-changing experience. Gary was present for the Watts Riots and the world premiere of Fantastic Voyage with Raquel Welch and Fernando Lamas at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. He arrived in San Francisco the day topless was approved. The four-month trip wet Gary’s appetite for more traveling. While driving home from California, he made a promise to himself: to drive around all of Europe the next year.
Gary bumped into a college student who graduated with him. The student was from Iran, a country most Americans had never heard of. Gary didn’t know it at the time, but his friend was from the wealthiest family in the world. His friend had lived in Switzerland for four years of boarding school, four years of college in London, and seven summers in the South of France for summer school. He asked Gary to join him that following summer to drive through Europe—his friend offering to be his tour guide since he knew Europe like the back of his hand.
At first, Gary was hesitant because of his friend’s perceived reputation, but he was very persuasive, promising to be the best tour guide ever. Reluctantly, Gary agreed, which led to the most mind-blowing experience—a ten-week trip through 12 countries and 19,920 miles of earth-shattering adventures that included turning a ship around in the middle of an ocean, dining with the King and Queen of Denmark, and the King and Queen of Belgium, meeting The Who backstage, being entertained by the Empress of Iran Empress Farah in Paris, gambling with the Shah of Iran in Monte Carlo, and even being rescued by Shirley Temple Black after being arrested during the Czechoslovakian Revolution in the summer of 1968.
Gary says, “It took ten years for me to process that trip—five years of research plus five years of writing—because I wished to share the greatest adventure a young naïve boy from Rhode Island could ever imagine happening. So, fasten your seat belts for a ride inside the elite world of the rich and famous and join me on the trip of my lifetime. A trip you will never forget. I promise you that!”
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Reviewed by: Mr. N