Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by halfmanhalfbook
A Time of Gifts: On Foot to Constantinople: by Patrick Leigh Fermor
4.0
In 1933, at the age of 19, Fermor decided that he wanted to walk across Europe to Constantinople. Starting in Holland, after catching the boat from London, he has his passport, a little money, a small bag of belongings and a new pair of hob-nailed boots.
He is in no rush to reach his destination, and with his easygoing manner makes friends easily as he walks. People are always sharing food or putting him up for the night, or he sleeps down in barns. He immerses himself in the culture of the places he walks through, taking time to see the sights. He is fortunate to sometimes stay with Counts and Barons across Germany, who are delighted to welcome a wandering soul. Most of the people he meets are warm with their greetings and generous with their time, food and shelter. He has his bag stolen at one point, but he is issued with a new passport, and is lent £5 by the consulate to be paid back when he is able to do so.
This point in history is where Europe had mostly recovered from the shattering First World War, and people have more or less gone back to their previous way of life. He provides a rare snapshot of what it was like in this period of calm. But in Germany the Nazi party is starting its steady rise to power and there are odd one or two individuals that have a problem with him being there.
He writes with such eloquence and detail in the book. The descriptions of the towns and villages, as well as the Rhine and the Danube are so evocative. He meets such interesting people too, from the German nobility to the country peasants, and acquires the odd hangover after nights spent in bars.
Just about to start the sequel now.
He is in no rush to reach his destination, and with his easygoing manner makes friends easily as he walks. People are always sharing food or putting him up for the night, or he sleeps down in barns. He immerses himself in the culture of the places he walks through, taking time to see the sights. He is fortunate to sometimes stay with Counts and Barons across Germany, who are delighted to welcome a wandering soul. Most of the people he meets are warm with their greetings and generous with their time, food and shelter. He has his bag stolen at one point, but he is issued with a new passport, and is lent £5 by the consulate to be paid back when he is able to do so.
This point in history is where Europe had mostly recovered from the shattering First World War, and people have more or less gone back to their previous way of life. He provides a rare snapshot of what it was like in this period of calm. But in Germany the Nazi party is starting its steady rise to power and there are odd one or two individuals that have a problem with him being there.
He writes with such eloquence and detail in the book. The descriptions of the towns and villages, as well as the Rhine and the Danube are so evocative. He meets such interesting people too, from the German nobility to the country peasants, and acquires the odd hangover after nights spent in bars.
Just about to start the sequel now.