Originally published in 1998 this is an account of a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela from Le Puy in France, completed in stages over 3 years by the author, his sister and a friend. Luard took to the road whilst reflecting on the imminent death of his eldest daughter and her life, friends and ultimate absence become interwoven into the text.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The author's daughter was diagnosed with Aids and given only a short time to live. A turbulent, but loving, relationship led him to make the pilgrimage from Le Puy in France to Santiago de Compostela (The Feild of the Star) in NW Spain. During the journey he thinks and writes about his relationship with Francesca, as well as with his travelling companions. The book is a moving and fascinating tribute to an immensely gifted young woman and an introduction to the tribulations of the 1000 miles pilgrimage. This reader felt the journey thoroughly worthwhile and hopes to follow it herself.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The moving story of Luard's journey following the 1000 year old pilgrimage of St. John of the Field of Stars, left me close to tears. Its a book that you know must end, at the end of the journey, at the death of the author's daughter, but that you wish never would. Luard's commentry on the trail are interspersed with memories of his daughters childhood spent in Spain and letters to her telling her all the things he never did while she was alive. Its a book only a father could write of a journey both physical and spiritual.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having read the books written by him and his wife which for me chronichled the life and death of their daughter made me admire
the latter's life outlook.
the latter's life outlook.
Format:Paperback
I was recommended this book because of my interest in the Camino and its use of the journey as a frame for looking at a relationship. It is difficult to see the Camino past or through the persona of the author who comes across as alternately needy and pompous. We are reminded often of his military life and his fitness and treated to many snide remarks about fellow pilgrims and openly racist comments about Germans. The journey is not one of anodyne healing and he is left at the end with the same complex feelings for his gifted and difficult daughter who died of AIDS at the age of 29. There are snapshots of the experience of the Camino but, perhaps because it was walked in stages over 4 years, it feels like a jumpy film. His experiences too are often diluted by accounts of his companions and their own varying takes on the experience.
The book feels rushed and would have benefited from editing - even the author acknowledges its repetitiveness with frequent 'as I have mentioned', 'as I've already described' etc so we get a deja-deja vu feeling. There are many little things that could have been corrected or cut such as a reference to 'Hullo' magazine and a beside-the-point rant about the CofE. The final chapters though were moving and direct -and then in a completely unnecessary appendix, the bossy soldier reappears to give recommendations on how to pack for the Camino and advice on changing one's socks. To walk the Camino, you just put one foot in front of the other.
I was sad to learn that Nicholas Luard died relatively young and that this was his last book. Perhaps that accounts for the rushed and grumpy style in which he tells this sad story.
The book feels rushed and would have benefited from editing - even the author acknowledges its repetitiveness with frequent 'as I have mentioned', 'as I've already described' etc so we get a deja-deja vu feeling. There are many little things that could have been corrected or cut such as a reference to 'Hullo' magazine and a beside-the-point rant about the CofE. The final chapters though were moving and direct -and then in a completely unnecessary appendix, the bossy soldier reappears to give recommendations on how to pack for the Camino and advice on changing one's socks. To walk the Camino, you just put one foot in front of the other.
I was sad to learn that Nicholas Luard died relatively young and that this was his last book. Perhaps that accounts for the rushed and grumpy style in which he tells this sad story.
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