Product Description

Not long before his 70th birthday, Christopher Lambert decided to walk solo across Europe, from Le Havre to Rome. He drew a blue line across a map of Europe and seventy-one walking days and 1000 miles later, with a small rucksack (whose most essential contents were a water bottle and a spare pair of socks), he arrived in the Eternal City. A sketchbook and pencils were his journey-long companions. This colourful book is an unedited facsimile of his daily sketches and the commentary of a very personal trek along that blue line. For ease of reading, a typeset margin has been added to each page, guiding the reader across the map and as a precis to Christopher's daily thoughts and observations. The mixture of vibrant colour sketches and hand-written, spontaneous thoughts give the reader a vivid glimpse of the road to Rome as undertaken by this unique and inspiring man. Christopher is a superb draughtsman and his drawings lead the way, being both charming and evocative. They capture the beauty of the landscapes, the grandeur of the cities, and the tone, be it humerous or heartfelt, of those he encountered along the way.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #159636 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

From the Publisher
A highly individual sketchbook diary of a walk to Rome

From the Author
This is an exact copy, size and content, of my sketchbook diary that I kept as I walked to Rome, an additional printed margin on each page helps decipher the handwritten notes that I made! The sketchbook was my constant friend to whom I chatted daily via my pens and watercolour pencils. I have added a preface and summary to my journal and my old friend Chris Bonington has generously contributed his own comments. Share my journey from your armchair

From the Inside Flap
Eighteen months before his 70th birthday Christopher Lambert drew a blue line across the map of Europe. Seventy-one walking days and 1000 miles later , with a small rucksack, the most important contents of which were a water bottle and a spare pair of socks, he arrived in Rome. In his pocket Christopher carried a sketchbook and some coloured pencils. This book faithfully reproduces the journal he kept.

Customer Reviews

The Via Francigena and more in beautiful colour
We had completed part of the route that Chris covered and found this a fantastic reminder of the journey. I hope I do not offend but I mean it as a compliment to say that this is a cross between Wainwright's Walks and a Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. The writing is difficult to decipher but worth the effort and the sketches seem to get better as the journey progresses.

Enjoying the walk along the line
This delightful little hardback book gave me ideas to enhance my travel sketching techniques. Chris uses a variety of approaches with his handful of sketching implements. I was particularly attracted to his work as he reached Italy in his travels. I even carried this wee book on a recent sketching holiday to Turkey for inspiration, and even sought out a fine brown pen in the back streets of Istanbul to trial the effect which pleased me - especially when drawing old buildings or ruins.

It is worth taking the time to decipher Chris' squiggles, as you walk with him through the sights, sounds and smells of the streets and countryside, experiencing what he feels. I read it from cover to cover.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys quick travel sketching or who wants a flavour of France, Switzerland and Italy.