Full Tilt

Dervla Murphy undertook a solo bicycle journey from her home in Lismore, Ireland, all the way to New Delhi, India. Her grueling 3,000-mile winter route took her through Europe, the Middle East, and the treacherous mountains of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Murphy famously rode a single-speed bicycle named "Roz," which carried all her gear, including a Spanish-made .25 caliber revolver. She relied heavily on the revolver for protection against wolves, wild dogs, and hostile humans she encountered in remote regions.

The book is celebrated for its completely unfiltered, stoic, and highly observant narrative tone, devoid of the typical romanticism of mid-century travelogues. Murphy documented brutal weather, sickness, and political instability in the Middle East with incredible detail and dry wit.

Yes, "Full Tilt" was a massive commercial success in 1965 and established Murphy as a pioneer in solo female adventure travel. The book paved the way for a new generation of female travel writers by proving that women could endure extreme, dangerous solo expeditions.