Two Views of Central Asian Journeys
For a while my obsession was collecting travel books about central Asia. Rather than do one long list, I'm always looking for new categories. Here's a new sub-sub category: One trip--two views. 1. News From Tartary: A Journey from Peking to Kashmir, Peter Flemming (1936; Library of Travel Classics). One of the most difficult routes that can be taken, Flemming and his traveling companion Ella Maillart, a Swiss journalist traveled through western China over the Taklaman desert and the Himalayans. Flemming was the brother of Ian Flemming, author of the 007 James Bond novels. Bought used, State Department Book Store. 2. Forbidden Journey, Ella Maillart (1937; The Century Travel Series). Ella Maillart was told the journey she was about to undertake was impossible for a westerner and certainly impossible for a western woman. Maillart was instrumental in getting Flemming through with her amateur medical skills. A remarkab...