The language of this book is pure poetry, just a delight to read. The author beautifully describes amazing countryside, castles, rivers, fascinating and incredibly generous people and a way of life in parts of Europe that were forever destroyed by the war. He walked through Germany during the time that Nazism was in the ascendancy, giving hope and optimism to a nation that had long been on its knees. It is fascinating to read about the excitement that Nazism brought to Germany in 1934 with the knowledge of the destruction and horror that it brought to the World just a few short years later.

The author met the most amazing people, a lot through good luck and fortune, but a lot to do with the fact that the author comes across as a delightful companion; polite, intelligent and with a young man's enthusiasm for life and living.

I can't wait to read the second part, 'Between the Woods and the Water'.


Heard this on radio in the UK, and it was superlative   May 27, 2000
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

It was read by Samuel West (I think) and was on Radio 4. The language is lyrical and paints an intensely vivid picture of the countries, people and sights he passes. The reader's voice added to it, but it was the language itself which was descriptive and sheer pleasure. It was broadcast late and to close one's eyes and imagine was superb. In one particularly poignant scene he described the sky as so perfect it just needed a Chinese ideogram in red to render it complete (but in much better language!) Inspired to read it in print myself now. One of the most beautiful books I have ever heard.


An intelligent account of a young mans walk to Budapest   January 12, 1999
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is a wonderful book, an adventure story. Only 17, he walks from London to Budapest in the early thirties, a remarkable feat in itself, this book is like a memoir of that trip. Along the way he shares his thoughts on the people he meets and the places he visits. Interspersed with objective and sympathetic observations of history art and culture, mixed with hindsight. The book shows us a glimpse of what the people of Europe were like just before the second World War. Fermor has a rare gift in the way that he understands and can explain what he sees.