Product Description

In 1933, at the age of 18, Patrick Leigh Fermor set out on an extraordinary journey by foot - from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople. A Time of Gifts is the first volume in a trilogy recounting the trip, and takes the reader with him as far as Hungary.

It is a book of compelling glimpses - not only of the events which were curdling Europe at that time, but also of its resplendent domes and monasteries, its great rivers, the sun on the Bavarian snow, the storks and frogs, the hospitable burgomasters who welcomed him, and that world's grandeurs and courtesies. His powers of recollection have astonishing sweep and verve, and the scope is majestic.

First published to enormous acclaim, it confirmed Fermor's reputation as the greatest living travel writer, and has, together with its sequel Between the Woods and the Water (the third volume is famously yet to be published), been a perennial seller for 25 years. (20040801)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #411 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-15
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Jan Morris
' Nothing short of a masterpiece'

Review
' Nothing short of a masterpiece' (Jan Morris )

'A treasure chest of descriptive writing' (Spectator )

'Not only is the journey one of physical adventure but of cultural awakening. Architecture, art, genealogy, quirks of history and language are all devoured - and here passed on - with a gusto uniquely his' (Colin Thubron, Sunday Telegraph )

'Every page of this book is distinguished by an image, a metaphor, a flash of humour always original and sometimes as incisive as a laser beam.' (Vincent Cronin )

'A tremendous journey ... and he's fabulous company' (Manchester Evening News )

' This is a traveller's tale at its infectious and informative best; vividly remembered and beautifully written' (Church Times )

'John Murray is doing the decent thing and reissuing all of Leigh Fermor's main books ... But what else would you expect from a publisher whose commitment to geography is such that for more than two centuries it has widened our understanding of the world?' (Geographical Magazine )

'Rightly considered to be among the most beautiful travel books in the language' (Independent )

'Bringing the landscape alive as no other writer can, he uses his profound and eclectic understanding of cultures and peoples ... to paint vivid pictures - nobody has illuminated the geography of Europe better' (Geographical Magazine )

Manchester Evening News
'A tremendous journey ... and he's fabulous company'

Customer Reviews

a lyrical meander through Europe
The simple concept of this journey was to walk from the hook of Holland to Istanbul following the two main arteries of Europe: the Rhine and the Danube. The book was written from pre-war notebooks so some of the language is slightly unfamiliar at first. Once you get over your modern cynicism the gentle pace and detailed descriptions will pull you through the slowly changing landscape of Europe. You will feel the cold of blizzards through dense woodlands and then warm up to drink schnapps in a Bavarian Inn. Despite the poetic prose and flawless rhythm the real strength of this book is the sheer scale and range of knowledge shown by PLF. I was never let down by his ceaseless curiosity, a curiosity which feeds off the assortment of characters he conversed with and the books he pored over en route. PLF is clearly a gifted Linguist and he has more than a passing interest in History, Folklore, Anthropology and Geography. This book also spurred me on to travel into Central Europe and see things for myself.

Deserves its reputation as a classic
At first I had trouble adjusting to Leigh Fermor's extremely descriptive style. He furnishes his writing with rarely-used words and is happy to hold up the story for pages while he sidetracks us with art historical or architectural speculations. However, his charm and learning prove irresistible. This is an unforgettable book.

A work of literature rather than a travel book
Less of a travel book, more of a vehicle for the author's literary pretensions. His frequent descents into ponderous descriptions of architectural minutiae meant that I found myself skipping whole pages, something that is a rare event for me.