In a nice literary coincidence, two of the greatest living travel writers were born on the same day - June 14: Raban in 1942 and Thubron in 1939. (I'm celebrating today because tomorrow I'm off.)

Raban's field of specialty is the United States. In Old Glory he took a boat down the Mississippi - from Minneapolis to New Orleans - and captured the essence not only of the river but also the Midwest. Unlike a lot of British observers, he took America seriously. In his next book, Hunting Mister Heartbreak, he moved about the country - Manhattan, Alabama, Key West, Seattle (which he eventually made his home) - and depicted the immigrant experience. Like Paul Theroux, he gave the travel book something of the shape of a novel, but he brought to it much more depth and insight. Unfortunately for lovers of travel, he now focuses on fiction.

Thubron has cut a wider swath, with books on western Russia, Siberia, China, central Asia and, most recently, the Silk Road. He is among the most dedicated of travel writers - learning both Russian and Mandarin - as well as the most rugged. He brings Raban's fierce intelligence to his work but complements it with a generous heart, so that he is able not only to interpret the landscape but connect with the people. Pick up Among the Russians or Behind the Wall or Shadow of the Silk Road and you will see what great travel writing is. And be thankful for June 14th.