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A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush
First published 1958 · 391 pages
A delightfully ill-advised plunge into the world's most unforgiving mountains, fueled by dry wit and sheer amateur stubbornness.
What it feels like
Reading this classic travelogue feels like sitting in a comfortable armchair while a charmingly self-deprecating friend recounts the most grueling, ill-advised vacation of his life. The pace is steady, mirroring the arduous, blister-inducing trek through unforgiving terrain, yet the atmosphere remains remarkably light, buoyed by an irrepressible, dry British wit. It is a masterclass in understatement; terrifying near-death experiences and agonizing physical hardships are delivered with the same wry, conversational tone as a complaint about a delayed train. The mood oscillates between the sheer absurdity of amateur exploration and genuine awe at the majestic, indifferent landscape. It will thoroughly delight readers who appreciate their tales of extreme adventure served with a heavy dose of irony, camaraderie, and spectacular incompetence.
- Mood
- rugged
- absurd
- awe-struck
- Tone
- wry
- self-deprecating
- understated
- humorous
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- amateur exploration · camaraderie in hardship · the romance of the unknown · absurdity of ambition
- The writing
- Crisp, dryly witty, and elegantly understated, masking profound physical hardship with polite, conversational humor.
- The arc
- Moves from restless domestic boredom to absurdly ill-prepared optimism, culminating in a grueling but deeply satisfying acceptance of one's own limitations.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love classic British travel writing and prefer their tales of extreme hardship served with a heavy dose of irony.
Content notes
- mild peril
- dated cultural attitudes
- animal distress
About the book
It is an autobiographical travelogue of Eric Newby,describing,in a comic,understated style,his ascent to Mir Samir.
Description from Open Library.
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