Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #148914 in Books
• Published on: 1997-12-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Synopsis
Heinrich Harrer, already a famous mountaineer and Olympic ski champion, was caught by the outbreak of World War II while climbing the Himalyas. Being an Austrian, he was interned in India. On his third attempt, he succeeded in escaping from the internment camp and fled into Tibet. After a series of experiences in a country never crossed before by a Westerner, Harrer reached the Forbidden City of Lhasa. He stayed there for seven years, learned the language and acquired a greater understanding of Tibet and the Tibetans. He became friend and tutor to the young Dalai Lama and finally accompanied him into India when he was put to flight by the Red Chinese invasion. This film tie-in edition includes an epilogue from the author describing his return to Tibet in the 1990s.

Customer Reviews

Nazi propaganda
Nobody seems to have noticed that the reason that the British imprisoned Harrer was that he was a member of the Nazi Party, and thus a security threat and an enemy of democracy. Unsurprisingly, he then hooked up with another old reactionary bigot, the Dalai Lama. Sorry guys - forget the reactionary daydreams, wake up and know the truth!

Excellent
This is a great read about life in Tibet before it got truly opened up to the west and before the Dalai Lama's exile. If you've seen the film you know roughly what to expect, but I found myself enjoying this book more than the film itself. The translation is excellent and the style is immensely easy to read and gets you involved in the story right away. A great read about Tibetan life and culture, as well as a story of one man's spiritual growth and development.

superb
this book is superb. having known nothing about tibet, i now can say i have at least a passing knowledge about this incredible country.
this is a must-read book - you're sure to enjoy it.