Words of Mercury [Illustrated] (Hardcover)

Mani: Travels in the Southern Peloponnese by Patrick Leigh Fermor 3.8 out of 5 stars (5)  £7.49

In Tearing Haste: Letters Between Deborah Devonshire and Patrick Leigh Fermor by Patrick Leigh Fermor 4.4 out of 5 stars (5)  £17.49

Between the Woods and the Water: On Foot to Constantinople from the Hook of Holland - The Middle Danube to the Iron Gates by Patrick Leigh Fermor 5.0 out of 5 stars (5)  £5.39

A Time of Gifts: On Foot to Constantinople - From the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube by Leigh Fermor Patrick 4.5 out of 5 stars (10)  £6.99

Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece by Patrick Leigh Fermor £6.99

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Review
'Inspirational, insatiable, worldly and utterly divine, these works will leave us all thirsting for more' -- The Good Book Guide 20031101 'collection of outstanding writings ... an overview of a magnificent career' -- The Good Book Guide 20031101 'Words of Mercury is an admirable palliative for those who can stand the strain no longer. A selection of Leigh Fermor's writings, it serves three purposes to good effect: it contains enough unfamiliar material to satisfy old hands, it will remind the forgetful or the unconverted just how good a writer he is, and it should serve as the perfect introduction to novice readers ! An introduction to a writer whose mastery of English prose has only been matched, in my lifetime, by Evelyn Waugh and Hugh Trevor-Roper, this could hardly be better ! the gems in the collection are pieces not previously available in book form' -- Jeremy Lewis, LITERARY REVIEW 20031001 'What is charm? In Leigh Fermor's case it is an infinite curiosity about other people. He treats Bulgarian peasants and English dukes exactly alike ! Paddy Leigh Fermor has lived one of the great picaresque lives on the 20th century. Yet his achievement is to be what he is -- even more than what he has done. This collection beautifully illustrates both ! Paddy draws the reader, like his huge acquaintance, into instant intimacy. Paddy Leigh Fermor -- war hero, linguist, adventurer -- is at heart a great storyteller' -- Max Hastings, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 20031005 'There is a pleasure to be had on every page ! Here is a writer who can find something fascinating in the dullest characters and the most drab towns. He is a master stylist, too, revelling in the possibilities of language, striving always to be exact. Few travel writers can create atmosphere quite as thickly, but then few have such extraordinary anecdotes to tell ! [the anthology] serves as a reminder that Leigh Fermor is one of the greatest travel writers of all time' -- Anthony Sattin, Sunday Times 20031019 'The perfect anthology should turn us into gluttons and should also include unexpected delicacies. This books fulfils both requirements but also a third, more difficult one: it present a complete portrait of the author. The compiler, Artemis Cooper, writes an introduction which is a model of informative brevity, but also succeeds in capturing the essence of Patrick Leigh Fermor -- the man as well as the literary oeuvre ! Leigh Fermor is a generous writer. There is not a dull character in the vast gallery in these pages where barons, bandits and beggars abound, where scholars and poets are colourful and ladies are beautiful' -- Santiago Tamaron, The Spectator 20031004 Praise for PATRICK LEIGH FERMOR: 'The finest travel writer of his generation' -- Colin Thubron 20031004 'The greatest of living travel writers' Jan Morris 20031004 'Patrick Leigh Fermor is an exquisite among travel writers' -- Sunday Telegraph 20031004 'He makes exotic and entertaining friends wherever he goes, has read everything, been everywhere and writes like a dream' -- The Times 20031004 'Wonderful collection of extracts from a lifetime's writings' -- Times Literary Supplement 20040109 [Leigh Fermor's] 'extraordinary character and combination of intelligence and compassion' -- Times Literary Supplement 20040109 'A beguiling combination of wisdom and wildness, maturity and freshness' -- Times Literary Supplement 20040109 'Leigh Fermor ... is the best sort of British traveller ... He combines the resourcefulness and daring of Odysseus with the learning, culture and glamour of a latter-day Byron' -- Times Literary Supplement 20040109 'A collection of extraordinary anecdotes that are full of atmosphere and incidents, which reveal Leigh Fermor to be a congenial, cultured traveller of the highest order' -- Global 20031201 'His infectious enthusiasm, insatiable curiosity and open approach make the book a pleasure to read. Fermor is a master stylist who conveys delight readily and insight easily, making him the leading exponent of the travelwriting genre.' -- Global 20031201 'Vivid recollections of a way of life which vanished with that war [Second World War]' -- The Independent 20040109 'His gift is that he sees everything' -- The Independent 20040109 'That Leigh Fermor writes beautifully can be taken for granted.' -- The Independent 20040109 'His writing seeks to shine a fierce light on the places and peoples he visits' -- The Independent 20040109 'He became embedded in the societies that he writes about with such captivating panache' -- The Independent 20040109 'Leigh Fermor's work is that of a heartfelt wanderer truly involved in mankind' -- Geographical Magazine 20040201 'Keen judgement, a fine eye for detail and a truly prodigious memory' -- Geographical Magazine 20040201

Sunday Telegraph
'Patrick Leigh Fermor is an exquisite among travel writers'

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3 Reviews 5 star:  (1) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   52 of 53 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars The Master Returns, 18 Nov 2003 By  Andrew Howell "andyhowell3" (Birmingham, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    Is there really any greater literary event than the arrival of a new work by Leigh Fermor? Here is English prose of the very highest order with amazingly evocative portraits of people and places. There really is nobody else who writes such gorgeous prose, is so wonderfully authoritative (and loving) of people, places, language and culture. I did wonder about buying this volume as, almost inevitably, I have all of his major published works on my bookshelf. But even when reading excerpts from classics like 'A time of Gifts' I felt I was getting acquainted with the people and places for the very first time. But there are lots of unpublished gems here - or at least pieces that have been published in obscure and sometimes defunct publications. The book is based on sections: travel; Greece; people; books as well as a section called 'flotsam' that includes a lovely piece on gluttony and a marvelous letter to Diana Cooper. Paddy is as remarkable as ever. If I've not given this five stars it is only because it reminds me (so forcibly) that we are still awaiting the final installment of the trilogy covering the walk from Holland to Constantinople. But, anyhow, while we're all waiting the 'Words of Mercury' will simply encourage us to re-read the back catalogue. And who knows; when we've finished, perhaps the new volume will be ready! I really can't believe that anyone reading this review will not have read Paddy's work before. But if you haven't, my goodness, your in for the literary treat of a lifetime! Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars A must for fans of Leigh-Fermor, 3 Nov 2004 By  Ms. S. Hamilton "sphamilton" (London) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Words of Mercury (Paperback) ... but if you already own all his books, be warned that about half this anthology is made up of extracts from Mani, Roumeli, A Time to Keep Silence, A Time of Gifts and other books. However, there are some interesting previously uncollected articles, reviews and profiles. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting, and a wonderful way with words (and people), 27 Jan 2009 By  Dr. H. Beentje (Kew, England) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Words of Mercury (Paperback) In addition to the two reviews above - yes, some of it is familiar; fifty-five pages from 'Time of gifts' and 'between the woods and the water', but - oh joy - we get a bit of part III of The Walk, 'a cave on the Black Sea', obscurely published in the Holiday Magazine of May 1965. That alone makes it worth the price, I'd say. Another thirty pages from 'Mani' and 'Roumeli'; and - andra moi ennepe, Mousa - twelve pages on abducting a General, from a report written for the Imperial War Museum in 1969. Bits from 'the Traveller's tree'; articles from the Spectator; biographical bits, book reviews, and even a section called, simply, 'flotsam'. It is all most enjoyable, and his way of writing gives me jolts of pleasure; it is the way the words fit together, calling up vistas, smells, unseen mysteries and long-gone times. I am not quite sure why everyone alweays calls Leigh Fermor a travel writer. Sure, he travels a lot; but surely, he is a people writer first of all. And a history writer, a myth writer, a place-and-atmosphere writer; a wonderful writer. Five stars, even if some of the reviews are too erudite for me. A trove of treasure, this one. I recommend it to your attention, and pleasure. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 3 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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