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A Time of Gifts

On Foot to Constantinople: from the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube

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A Time of Gifts

By: Patrick Leigh Fermor
Narrated by: Crispin Redman
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About this listen

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 listener with him as far as Hungary.

It is a book of compelling glimpses - not only of the events that 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.

©1977 The estate of Patrick Leigh Fermor (P)2014 Hodder & Stoughton Adventure Travel Biographies & Memoirs

Critic Reviews

"Nothing short of a masterpiece" (Jan Morris)
"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)
"Rightly considered to be among the most beautiful travel books in the language" ( Independent)

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A time of gifts. Patrick Fermor

This is potentially an intriguing story set at a unique time in Europe’s history in the 1930s. I am puzzled by what audience he had in mind when he wrote the tome. He uses a rule that in using words or describing anything , make it as complicated and clever sounding as possible. So clever in fact the majority of well read and vocabulary rich readers, prior to losing patience, will be googling away or referring to their dictionaries after every page. He becomes tedious after few chapters and his self referential erudition so wearing and obvious , he destroys any enthusiasm you might have had for his narrative.

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