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Land of Eagles: Riding through Europe's Forgotten Country
Determined to discover the Albanian that lies behind so many stereotypes and preconceptions, Robin Hanbury-Tenison and his wife Louella crossed the country on horseback, from Theth in the north to the border with Greece in the south. In the footsteps of Byron, Edward Lear and Edith Durham they crossed some of the most wild and arrestingly beautiful landscapes in Europe. Through soaring mountain ranges and hidden valleys they lived simply; staying in the homes of communities completely untouched by the 21st century and in towns bursting with artistic creativity. Land of Eagles is the story of a lyrical and dramatic journey, peppered with adventure and mishap, discovery and unexpected encounters. Adorned with the history, legends and literature of Albania and with the tales of past travellers, it is a luminous portrait of this mysterious and eccentric country, which has for too long been forgotten by Europe.
- GenresTravelNonfictionHistory
203 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 17, 2017
Very, very rarely do I ever not finish a book, but I just can't do it. I can't. I keep trying, but this book just makes me mad. I picked this book because it was recommended as a good book to read if one wants to learn about Albania. The author could have been on a horse trail anywhere in the world as far as I'm concerned, because he hardly ever talked about anything other than himself and his experiences with his chosen horses and comrades. He's travelling through a foreign country and never once paints a picture of his surroundings.
I only got halfway through this book, but when I was about a quarter of the way I stopped and watched a 22 minute video about horseback riding through Albania that explained significant features that this author must assume the reader already understands. For example, he mentioned once how uncomfortable a typical Albanian saddle is, and I blew by this information as insignificant. He never elaborated. The person in the video I watched, however, used her words to describe the uniqueness of the saddle. She did a good job giving a simple description that I didn't need to see it afterwards. I had a visual. I don't understand why the author couldn't do that in his book.
And what kind of writer gets to the top of a mountain and just says the "view was magnificent?" You're a writer and you can't describe it?
And the entire chapter about blood feuds in Albania made no mention of this centuries-long, national struggle other than point out that it's the reason why all the roads only go east to west throughout the country.
Bottom line, I was bored out of my mind and learned almost nothing. I even stopped reading all the other books I was reading just so I could plow through this one and get it over with. That was my incentive: I could pick up another book ONLY when I have finished this one. But I kept coming up with other things to do just to keep myself from reading this book. So if I don't abandon ship now then I will never read another book again.
I only got halfway through this book, but when I was about a quarter of the way I stopped and watched a 22 minute video about horseback riding through Albania that explained significant features that this author must assume the reader already understands. For example, he mentioned once how uncomfortable a typical Albanian saddle is, and I blew by this information as insignificant. He never elaborated. The person in the video I watched, however, used her words to describe the uniqueness of the saddle. She did a good job giving a simple description that I didn't need to see it afterwards. I had a visual. I don't understand why the author couldn't do that in his book.
And what kind of writer gets to the top of a mountain and just says the "view was magnificent?" You're a writer and you can't describe it?
And the entire chapter about blood feuds in Albania made no mention of this centuries-long, national struggle other than point out that it's the reason why all the roads only go east to west throughout the country.
Bottom line, I was bored out of my mind and learned almost nothing. I even stopped reading all the other books I was reading just so I could plow through this one and get it over with. That was my incentive: I could pick up another book ONLY when I have finished this one. But I kept coming up with other things to do just to keep myself from reading this book. So if I don't abandon ship now then I will never read another book again.
August 14, 2019
The book is a bit tedious. I give it 2 stars, because I know how difficult and arduous it would be to navigate through the hills and valleys of Albania on horse - although it was done by choice.
I had hoped to learn a bit more about Albanian culture and history in this book, but it as all about navigating landscapes, their horses, and the British role in early Albanian history, up to World War II.
Not quite what I had been hoping for.
I had hoped to learn a bit more about Albanian culture and history in this book, but it as all about navigating landscapes, their horses, and the British role in early Albanian history, up to World War II.
Not quite what I had been hoping for.
March 15, 2019
This book was disappointingly boring for me. I was interested in the journey but a good third of the book is direct quotes from history books which I found really dry and I ended up skipping these sections. Yawn.
October 13, 2014
Read for the Travel Book Project.
Quit at 63 pages. Tenison is my least favorite kind of travel writer: condescending and arrogant. He thinks it's funny to laugh at the country behind its back, and almost every sentence started with 'I'. I read travel books because I want to read about the country, not the author. He's the sort of tourist who gives them a bad name.
Not even an Albanian setting could save this for me.
Quit at 63 pages. Tenison is my least favorite kind of travel writer: condescending and arrogant. He thinks it's funny to laugh at the country behind its back, and almost every sentence started with 'I'. I read travel books because I want to read about the country, not the author. He's the sort of tourist who gives them a bad name.
Not even an Albanian setting could save this for me.
September 29, 2011
A great intro to albania, even if not told by a great travel writer.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews