Words of Mercury

by Patrick Leigh Fermor, Artemis Cooper (Editor)

An anthology of the travels and writings of Britain's legendary Patrick Leigh Fermor
Patrick Leigh Fermor was only 18 years old when he set off to walk from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople. It was during these early wanderings that he started to pick up languages, and where he developed his extraordinary sense of the continuity of history. Whether he is drawing portraits in Vienna or sketching Byron's slippers in Missolonghi, his touch in unmistakable. Its infectious enthusiasm is driven by an insatiable curiosity and an omnivorous mind—all inspired by a passion for words and language.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Essays, Greece, Audiobook, Memoir, History

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2003

About the author

Sir Patrick Michael Leigh Fermor, OBE, DSO was of English and Irish descent. After his stormy schooldays, followed by his walk across Europe to Constantinople, he lived and travelled in the Balkans and the Greek Archipelago acquiring a deep interest in languages and remote places.

Fermor was an army officer who played a prominent role behind the lines in the Battle of Crete during World War II. He lived partly in Greece in a house he designed with his wife Joan in an olive grove in the Mani, and partly in Worcestershire. He was widely regarded as "Britain's greatest living travel writer".

Reviews

[Lyn Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artemis Cooper has put together a splendid collection that samples much of Patrick (Paddy here) Leigh Fermor's writing, and as the cover blurb says, it's wonderful to dip into and be reminded of pieces if you've read them before, and equally wonderful to discover for the first time. We just get glimpses of genres and periods, with some favourite stories from his extraordinary walking journey across Europe in the early 1930s; an extract from A Time to Keep Silence, when he undertook a monastic retreat in France to write; and quite a few pieces from the years in which he lived in Greece as a resistance fighter in Crete and then as a resident in the Mani.
The last section, Flotsam, was mostly made up of pieces he wrote about other writers for the Times Literary Supplement, some engaging but some lost hopelessly in the mists of my ignorance - I didn't know who they were and they were too far away now to come alive for me with any sense of meaning.
Much of his writing gleams, is alive and vivid with metaphor. But sometimes it is so self-consciously rich that it loses me altogether.
Hence 4 rather than 5.
But most of it it has been a joy to read.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Leigh Fermor is probably best known for the walk he undertook from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople in the early 1930’s. He was only 18 at the time of departure and the Europe that he saw and described was still as it had been for decades, as well as being of the cusp of dramatic change with the rise of the far right in Germany and other countries. He had a knack for languages and his infectious enthusiasm meant he could mix with the lowest peasant to the highest landowner all across Europe. He was active during the Second World War mostly in Crete and was the instigator behind a dramatic abduction of a German general. After the war, he moved to his beloved Greece settling in the Peloponnese region.

This book is a lovely collection of articles grouped into various sections, travels, Greece, people books and the wonderfully titled flotsam. Some are drawn from his earlier books and others are articles that have appeared in various magazines and newspapers. The subjects are diverse, varying from bicycle polo to Gluttony, Bryon to Andalucía and are written in his indomitable style. Whilst I have read a number of the pieces before, there are several that I haven’t. Most of the articles are really good, not all of them are. It would be a good introduction to one of my favourite writers for those that are interested.

[Gordon Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost a “best of PLF”, how could that ever be a bad thing? Never in my opinion 🥳

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've dabbled in Fermor's writing, but this lovely edition of various pieces will ensure I get cracking on his NYRB editions. I certainly have a romantic view and jealousy of his peripatetic life. This added to that view, even his book reviews are deeply satisfying.

[Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Leigh Fermor was a fascinating character. Having set out from England at age 18 with the goal of walking across Europe to Constantinople he began a life of travel and adventure (including kidnapping a German General in Crete during WWII).He was an extremely erudite fellow but was equally at home with nobility and with common shepherds and fishermen. This is a good cross section of his writings, however, to be honest, the 50 odd pages of book reviews went over my head (not understanding the context or often the content - when he slipped into Latin, French, German or Greek) and expects the reader to know what he is saying. Overall, his descriptive prose makes him one of the finest travel writers.

[Indira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Netherlands.
This book is a compilation of essays that Patrick (Paddy) Leigh Fermor wrote during his 'walk' from the 'Hook of Holland to Constantinople. He started the epic journey in the 1930s when he was 18. Through his anecdotes, we can see that he wore several hats. A painter, a writer, a poet, a book reviewer, a traveller, and a combat planner! He was the instigator in the planning of an abduction of an army general. It is, without a doubt, a gem of a book, esp for one who dreams of travelling across Europe or has some interest in history. His writings sometimes reveal the painter in him, detailing every hue and accentuating the subtle tints of literary genius. His book reviews are also included and they are quite interesting and detailed. For me, at places, it was difficult to go on. Though certain chapters on people and places, he had sketched exquisite portraits, certain dissertations were long and complex. These are excerpts from his various books and that could be one reason. For example, some book reviews bring the question as to why would we read his opinion on another literature. He is poetic in his own musings and there is poetry from other literature that he has detailed. I would definitely recommend it to one with a flair for travel and 'British' writing.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick Leigh Fermor is a beautiful throwback to an era which seems almost unimaginably distant now. Imagine being able to wander from one country to another throughout Europe, sleeping rough sometimes, at other times being feted by aristocrats and treated to informal concerts by Arthur Rubinstein. All of this with only the most rudimentary of passport checks, if at all, and the freedom of a slower time and no 24/7 communication. But more fundamentally, an openness and hospitality for strangers who come wandering into town that seems almost Biblical or out of fairy tales.

Now imagine the stories and moments that arise from those wanderings, told by a master of prose -- over the top, glorious, expressive prose -- and you get some sense of what this collection offers. It is a set of writings to be savored, perhaps over a good whiskey, because Fermor would have approved, that offer little glimpses into a golden era of travel that will never come again.

[Jono · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK - I read much of it. Parts of it I loved and in fact re-read. Parts of it are hard going. He does write amazingly well and learnedly. Sometimes it's like reading poetry. But other times it can be a bit of a struggle. It is fascinating to read about the places he knows though - all of Eastern Europe that I know very little of.

[Ian Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely way to dip into Fermor's writing - a varied collection of passages and short stories.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series of essays from his other books, a 'best of Leigh Fermor'. Now I want to read all the books.

Each part of the book is set up to cover a specific topic people, places, events, etc.

My favorite: Bicycle Polo. In Slovenia.

Fermor is such a romantic writer, his prose lushwith imagery. For anyone with cabin fever, take a journey with him and you'll feel as though you went along yourself.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as a download from Audible. This compilation of passages and reviews, with the occasional letter, includes lots of colorful adventures and character sketches--all read with great attention to pacing, tone, and accent. His visit to a huge beer hall in Nazi Germany, and his essay on gluttons from the Seven Deadly Sins, are two of the most hilarious things I've ever read/heard.

[Dave Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fine start in a german beer hall, but the quality of the pieces collected in this anthology declines somewhat as the book progresses, which is a shame, because at his best, Fermor sparkles on the page ... still, a very pleasant way to while away the commute, and left me wanting to hear more from this author.

[Jamie]

Gentleman's clubs, Eton, hunting, extracts without translation, Greek mythology, high society etc - it all got a bit much and felt exclusive and one dimensional, rather than inclusive, new and exciting like a Time of Gifts and Mani.

For £2 from a charity shop it's worth it, but for every page enjoyed there was a page skimmed.

[Artie LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this collection is dazzling: PLF's writing really captivates, and I savoured the breadth of his knowledge and experience.
Sadly, in the final section, there are book reviews that are just too esoteric for me - books about obscure subjects analysed with too much knowledge. Hence 4 stars rather than 5.

[Gerard Farnham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travels in a past and more exciting time where the world was a greater place and a classical education was less rare.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audible Audiobook

[Annie Robb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly wonderfully written essays about interesting places and fascinating people.

[Mrs D. J. Knapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for a book club- a bit like doing homework. Some nice touches of description and moments of peril- but a ponderous style that I found hard to get along with

[Jakob · Rating 5 out of 5]

The highlight reel from one of my favorite prose stylists. This is delicious.

[Jane Tozer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it all. Leigh Fermor is the quintessential travel writer and this anthology showcases how magical prose has the ability to capture the very essence of a place.

[Pascale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that read. The author has such an interesting way of presenting things and people that you can hardly put the book down. The descriptions of places were magical and people you wished you had met yourself. The only part I thought was more difficult was the last section on books. Maybe because I find it harder to read about a book I haven't read than place I haven't seen or people I haven't met. It is still beautifully written and some were quite fascinating but I did prefer the other sections.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is travel writing in its most elevated, lofty form, and for that reason it's pretty unapproachable. I appreciate literary works as much as the next English major, but the writing was dense and referential, and it was hard to stay hooked. if you like literary travel writing, I'd suggest something by mark twain, who packs in the description but balances it with caricature and anecdote.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tempting array of aperitifs for those that love Fermor's writing or as an introduction to his work. As with any selection, it can be hit and miss - but by and large the quality of the writing wins through.

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

I keep returning to his essay on his home in Greece, not only because of the wonderfulness of his descriptions, but because I've been wandering hotel rooms for over a year.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. His style and story-telling is brilliant.
The last Emperor of Byzantium is outstanding. Laughed out loud as reading it.

[Peter Sunlit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read.