The Amur River By Colin Thubron

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20210920

The Amur River is almost unknown. Yet it is the tenth longest river in the world, rising in the Mongolian mountains and flowing through Siberia to the Pacific. For 1,100 miles it forms the tense border between Russia and China. Haunted by the memory of land-grabs and unequal treaties, this is the most densely fortified frontier on earth.

In his 80th year, Colin Thubron makes a dramatic journey from the Amur's secret source to its giant mouth, covering almost 3,000 miles. Troubled by injury and almost thwarted by arrest, he makes his way along both the Russian and Chinese shores, starting out on horseback in Mongolia.

Having revived his Russian and Mandarin, he talks to everyone he meets, from Chinese traders to Russian fishermen, from monks to indigenous peoples. By the time he reaches the river's desolate end, where Russia's 19th century imperial dream petered out, a whole, pivotal world has come alive.

Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin)

Written by Colin Thubron

Read by Robert Powell

Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

Colin Thubron documents his journey along the river from secret source to giant mouth.

Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.

20210921

Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin)

Written by Colin Thubron

Read by Robert Powell

Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

With horses now replaced by a jeep, the author follows the river's course to Siberia.

Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.

20210922

Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin)

Written by Colin Thubron

Read by Robert Powell

Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

Now following the Amur in Russia, Colin Thubron has an encounter with the authorities.

Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.

20210923

Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin)

Written by Colin Thubron

Read by Robert Powell

Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

Having crossed into China, the author experiences a different perspective on history.

Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.

20210924

Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin)

Written by Colin Thubron

Read by Robert Powell

Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4

Colin Thubron reaches the end of his journey - where the Amur flows in to the sea.

Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20210920	The Amur River is almost unknown. Yet it is the tenth longest river in the world, rising in the Mongolian mountains and flowing through Siberia to the Pacific. For 1,100 miles it forms the tense border between Russia and China. Haunted by the memory of land-grabs and unequal treaties, this is the most densely fortified frontier on earth. In his 80th year, Colin Thubron makes a dramatic journey from the Amur's secret source to its giant mouth, covering almost 3,000 miles. Troubled by injury and almost thwarted by arrest, he makes his way along both the Russian and Chinese shores, starting out on horseback in Mongolia. Having revived his Russian and Mandarin, he talks to everyone he meets, from Chinese traders to Russian fishermen, from monks to indigenous peoples. By the time he reaches the river's desolate end, where Russia's 19th century imperial dream petered out, a whole, pivotal world has come alive. Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin) Written by Colin Thubron Read by Robert Powell Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Colin Thubron documents his journey along the river from secret source to giant mouth. Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.
02	20210921	The Amur River is almost unknown. Yet it is the tenth longest river in the world, rising in the Mongolian mountains and flowing through Siberia to the Pacific. For 1,100 miles it forms the tense border between Russia and China. Haunted by the memory of land-grabs and unequal treaties, this is the most densely fortified frontier on earth. In his 80th year, Colin Thubron makes a dramatic journey from the Amur's secret source to its giant mouth, covering almost 3,000 miles. Troubled by injury and almost thwarted by arrest, he makes his way along both the Russian and Chinese shores, starting out on horseback in Mongolia. Having revived his Russian and Mandarin, he talks to everyone he meets, from Chinese traders to Russian fishermen, from monks to indigenous peoples. By the time he reaches the river's desolate end, where Russia's 19th century imperial dream petered out, a whole, pivotal world has come alive. Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin) Written by Colin Thubron Read by Robert Powell Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 With horses now replaced by a jeep, the author follows the river's course to Siberia. Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.
03	20210922	The Amur River is almost unknown. Yet it is the tenth longest river in the world, rising in the Mongolian mountains and flowing through Siberia to the Pacific. For 1,100 miles it forms the tense border between Russia and China. Haunted by the memory of land-grabs and unequal treaties, this is the most densely fortified frontier on earth. In his 80th year, Colin Thubron makes a dramatic journey from the Amur's secret source to its giant mouth, covering almost 3,000 miles. Troubled by injury and almost thwarted by arrest, he makes his way along both the Russian and Chinese shores, starting out on horseback in Mongolia. Having revived his Russian and Mandarin, he talks to everyone he meets, from Chinese traders to Russian fishermen, from monks to indigenous peoples. By the time he reaches the river's desolate end, where Russia's 19th century imperial dream petered out, a whole, pivotal world has come alive. Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin) Written by Colin Thubron Read by Robert Powell Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Now following the Amur in Russia, Colin Thubron has an encounter with the authorities. Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.
04	20210923	The Amur River is almost unknown. Yet it is the tenth longest river in the world, rising in the Mongolian mountains and flowing through Siberia to the Pacific. For 1,100 miles it forms the tense border between Russia and China. Haunted by the memory of land-grabs and unequal treaties, this is the most densely fortified frontier on earth. In his 80th year, Colin Thubron makes a dramatic journey from the Amur's secret source to its giant mouth, covering almost 3,000 miles. Troubled by injury and almost thwarted by arrest, he makes his way along both the Russian and Chinese shores, starting out on horseback in Mongolia. Having revived his Russian and Mandarin, he talks to everyone he meets, from Chinese traders to Russian fishermen, from monks to indigenous peoples. By the time he reaches the river's desolate end, where Russia's 19th century imperial dream petered out, a whole, pivotal world has come alive. Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin) Written by Colin Thubron Read by Robert Powell Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Having crossed into China, the author experiences a different perspective on history. Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.
05	20210924	The Amur River is almost unknown. Yet it is the tenth longest river in the world, rising in the Mongolian mountains and flowing through Siberia to the Pacific. For 1,100 miles it forms the tense border between Russia and China. Haunted by the memory of land-grabs and unequal treaties, this is the most densely fortified frontier on earth. In his 80th year, Colin Thubron makes a dramatic journey from the Amur's secret source to its giant mouth, covering almost 3,000 miles. Troubled by injury and almost thwarted by arrest, he makes his way along both the Russian and Chinese shores, starting out on horseback in Mongolia. Having revived his Russian and Mandarin, he talks to everyone he meets, from Chinese traders to Russian fishermen, from monks to indigenous peoples. By the time he reaches the river's desolate end, where Russia's 19th century imperial dream petered out, a whole, pivotal world has come alive. Music: River by Balladeste (Tara Franks, cello & Preetha Narayanan, violin) Written by Colin Thubron Read by Robert Powell Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Colin Thubron reaches the end of his journey - where the Amur flows in to the sea. Colin Thubron documents his journey along the tenth-longest river in the world.