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I was very keen to read this travel book about the authors journey by foot across Europe in 1933/34. The middle section when he was walking through Germany just as Hitler had come to power was particularly compelling. Fermor's charisma is apparent and he is a keen observer. He was only 18 at the time though and the insights and reflections an older traveller might have are perhaps lacking. Walking from Britain to Turkey was quite a feat in itself!

I fell asleep while reading the introduction. A sign?

I loved the idea: travelling by foot. This book was written 40 years after the journey and doesn't have the voice of 18-yo. His 60-yo voice wanted to show how wise he was and how much he knew about history, art and poetry.

I liked the chapters about Germany because Hitler had came in power in the same year and people had opinions about politics.

#Pantone2022 #SeriesRead2022

In 1933, at age 18, Briton Patrick Leigh Fermor walked from the Netherlands to Constantinople. He chronicles the first half of his trip here, just as he enters Hungary from #Slovakia. I loved this idea, but the writing was too meandering and flowery for me, in a book-reader mismatch.

#ReadingEurope2020 (2 to go! Will I get there? 🤞🏼)

In the winter of 1933 a young man started a walk from Holland to Constantinople. This adventure hooked me right away. Fermor conveys the immediacy of his experience along with learnèd musings on the medieval history of the land (& some sad post WWII notes). His lively encounters along with his walker‘s perspective drive the book. His erudition can be dense at times—I have a new journal of ideas for him—but the joy of the trip makes it all work.

My time would be better spent reading then posting, but taking a moment to enjoy my surroundings.

Thinking of going along with Leigh Fermor, even if I have to constantly look up words like “spinneys”

Oh my goodness. I already know I'm going to ADORE this book.

Powell's #bookhaul, from two different days because just one visit isn't enough. And apparently, I was in a specific mood as we've got here travel non-fiction and science fiction only.

I described the book to my husband as the memoir of a guy who traipsed around Germany getting drunk with locals and speaking Latin, at which point my husband commented, "Ah, so, your spirit animal." I've already bought the two books Fermor wrote after this one and can't wait to read.

🎄There will be no guessing in MY family as to what I'll be #GivingasGifts. It's the same every year and they rely upon me for reading material now (and have become quite demanding!). #12DaysofXmasPhoto