Words of Mercury: Tales from a Lifetime of Travel - Softcover

Leigh Fermor, Patrick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1629142239 ISBN 13: 9781629142234

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing, 2014

Synopsis

A career-spanning anthology from the greatest traveler—and travel writer—of the twentieth century.

The adventures of Patrick “Paddy” Leigh Fermor, Britain’s most beloved traveler, began in 1933, when he embarked on a walk from Holland to Constantinople—the entire length of Europe—at the tender age of eighteen. Sleeping in barns, monasteries, and, on occasion, aristocratic country houses, the young adventurer made way his through the Old World just as everything was about to change.

Words of Mercury collects pieces from every stage of Leigh Fermor’s life, from his journey through Eastern Europe just before the outbreak of the Second World War—described in gorgeous, meditative detail—to his encounter with voodoo in Haiti, to a monastic retreat to Normandy to try to write a book. Also included is the story of one of his most well-known exploits from the war—his planned and executed kidnap of a German general under British orders. Ever the student, “Paddy” also wrote extensively on his encounters with polymaths, linguists, and artists all over the world.

Over the course of his illustrious lifetime, Leigh Fermor wrote several acclaimed travel books, countless essays, translations, and book reviews, many of which are compiled in this anthology. His unique experiences out in the world fed his insatiable curiosity and voracious appetite for scholarship. His tales, written in a singular, elegant style, have inspired generations of writers and continue to shape the language of travel.

About this title

Review

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...it [the anthology] serves as a reminder that Leigh Fermor is one of the greatest travel writers of all time (Anthony Sattin, Sunday Times)

'The finest travel writer of his generation' Colin Thubron

'The greatest of living travel writers' Jan Morris

Patrick Leigh Fermor is an exquisite among travel writers (Sunday Telegraph)

Paddy Leigh Fermor - war hero, linguist, adventurer - is at heart a great storyteller ... he draws the reader, like his huge acquaintance, into instant intimacy. His achievement is to be who he is - even more than what he has done. This collection beautifully illustrates both. (Max Hastings, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH)

He makes exotic and entertaining friends wherever he goes, has read everything, been everywhere and writes like a dream (The Times)

From the Publisher

This is a long awaited book from Leigh Fermor, the first for twelve years.

About this edition

• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1629142239
• ISBN 13: 9781629142234
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288
• Editor: Cooper Artemis