The Towers of Trebizond in Around the World in 80 Books

Dec 18, 2023 Steve rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, exploration-travel

I may come back to this later to expand on my review. It's a library book, and I have returned it, so I'm reviewing via memory and not quoted examples (which I think important given the high quality of the writing). Anyway, The Towers of Trebizond was published in 1956, two years before Rose Macauly's death. It's an unusual book that blends fiction, travel writing, and a good dose of theology. Jan Morris, in her excellent introduction, points out that there was something of a Silver Age of Trave I may come back to this later to expand on my review. It's a library book, and I have returned it, so I'm reviewing via memory and not quoted examples (which I think important given the high quality of the writing). Anyway, The Towers of Trebizond was published in 1956, two years before Rose Macauly's death. It's an unusual book that blends fiction, travel writing, and a good dose of theology. Jan Morris, in her excellent introduction, points out that there was something of a Silver Age of Travel Writing following the Second World War. This is helpful since you often think you're reading a "Golden Age" between-the-wars product from the 1930s. No doubt Macauly herself was drawing on her earlier experience while crafting The Towers of Trebizond.

The story begins with the formation of an expedition to Turkey to explore and convert. It is led by the eccentric Dorothea ffoulkes-Corbett (Aunt Dot), a High Anglican clergyman (and bore) Fr. Chantry-Pigg (not a good name to have if one aim to convert Muslims), and the young Laurie, who acts as something of a secretary and recorder of events. It's all rather ridiculous, with spies, Billy Graham followers, magicians, drugs, and nearby Soviets. After a number of misadventures, Aunt Dot and Fr. Chantry-Pigg disappear over the Russian border, and Laurie, with little money and an insane camel, is left to her own devices as far as finding her way back home. The halfway point is really the true beginning of the story once you realize that it's always been Laurie's tale to tell. What follows are impressive and deep meditations on faith and church and history, along with Laurie's dilemma of having a lover and being caught up in an adulterous relationship she has no intention to renounce. Laurie is arguably committing a sin against the Holy Spirit. She knows what she's doing, but doesn't care (though she sure thinks about it a lot) if it places her outside a Church and God that she sees as real as her sin. In the end Comedy turns to Tragedy. That might not sound like a Thing for you, but it's often very funny -- until it isn't. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2021 Andrea rated it really liked it

A classic humorous travel book but with dark undertones. It was immensely popular when it came out in 1956 and while some of the historical context has changed, the deeper undertones of religious faith and doubt and practical morality are always current. Further, anyone with some knowledge of the history of the region, or willing to learn, will be caught up in the deeply tragic history of Trebizond (now Trabzon) and its beauty. Funny but also melancholy. I loved this. The last chapter is gutwren ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2013 Andy Plonka rated it it was amazing

Tongue in cheek British humor, the story of an Englishwoman accompanied by her niece and her camel take a trip to Turkey and some of the neighboring countries.

Like · see review