Review
'Like the voyage of the Kon-Tiki, it deserves to take its place among the few great travel stories of our own times' The Times 'Few adventureres in this century have had the combined luck and hardihood to return with such news as this. Fewer still have rendered it so powerfully unadorned.' Times Literary Supplement 'Some books, like some mountains, are lonely and unrivalled peaks, and this is one of these.' Economist
Tibet is a strange and wonderful land and Heinrich Harrer's record of his seven years spent there make a strange and wonderful story, a blend of personal adventure and interpretation of the mysticism and beauty, Harrer, a German, was interned by the British in a prison camp in India at the outbreak of war. His escape was relatively simple, as he writes it; he chose Tibet as his route of flight, intending to reach Japanese lines and rom there be returned to the German forces. He reached Lhasa, forbidden city of Tibet, and was so intrigued by the way of life that he stayed, putting his many talents to constructive use. Harsh weather- barriers against foreigners- all were overcome, and he became tutor to the Dalai Lama and enjoyed a rare relationship with this highest dignitary. Psychologically, the story is unique, as a rather arrogant member of the "Master Race" is won to the simple ways of a peace loving people, is deflected from his desire to fight for Fascism and concludes with a plea for understanding of his adopted, country Tibet. This is more than a first rate adventure story. (Kirkus Reviews)
Product Description
Imprisoned in India by the British when WWII was declared, Austrian climber Heinrich Harrer escaped, crossing the Himalayas to Tibet. Settling in Lhasa, the Forbidden City, he became the tutor and friend of the present Dalai Lama in this classic of adventure literature. Heinrich Harrer, already a famous mountaineer and Olympic ski champion, was caught by the outbreak of the Second World War while climbing in the Himalayas. An Austrian national, he was imprisoned by the British in India. By an almost super-human effort, on his third attempt he succeeded in escaping from the internment camp and fled into Tibet. After a series of remarkable experiences in a country never crossed before by a Westerner, Harrer reached the forbidden city of Lhasa. He stayed there for seven years, learned the language and acquired a greater understanding of Tibet and the Tibetans than any Westerner had ever before achieved. He became the friend and tutor of the young Dalai Lama and finally accompanied him into India when he was put to flight by the Red Chinese invasion. Made into a successful motion picture starring Brad Pitt, this is a stunning story of incredible courage and self-reliance set against the backdrop of a mysterious and magnificent culture.
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