This begins where 'A time of gifts' left off. It follows Paddy as he wanders mainly on foot through Hungary and Transylvania on his way to Constantinople from the Hook of Holland. I think I enjoyed this more then the first book due to the areas covered having long intrigued me. The fate of civilisations and empires have regularly been decided in the lands shadowed by the Carpathians and Paddy's erudition in the history of the many peoples who have passed through inspired me to follow through with further reading elsewhere. I think that's always a good indication of a history/travel books worth. One thing that did irritate me slightly was that for a bloke intent on traveling as a vagabond he sure stayed at a lot of country estates with their aristocratic owners who couldn't seem to do enough for him and never seemed to want him to leave. I think I just got a bit envious is all. Great read.
I think I enjoyed this more then the first book due to the areas covered having long intrigued me. The fate of civilisations and empires have regularly been decided in the lands shadowed by the Carpathians and Paddy's erudition in the history of the many peoples who have passed through inspired me to follow through with further reading elsewhere. I think that's always a good indication of a history/travel books worth.
One thing that did irritate me slightly was that for a bloke intent on traveling as a vagabond he sure stayed at a lot of country estates with their aristocratic owners who couldn't seem to do enough for him and never seemed to want him to leave. I think I just got a bit envious is all.
Great read.