A Time of Gifts

INTRODUCED BY JAN MORRIS

In 1933, at the tender age of eighteen, Patrick Leigh Fermor embarked on a remarkable year-long journey on foot from the Hook of Holland to Istanbul. Decades later, he penned A Time of Gifts, a dazzlingly original and evocative narrative of the first part of this epic trek through Europe. This literary masterpiece takes readers on a vivid journey that starts from the Low Countries, up the Rhine, through Germany, down the Danube, and across Austria and Czechoslovakia to the edge of Hungary.

Fermor's adventures began with only a rucksack, a sturdy pair of hobnailed boots, and a meager allowance of one pound a week. His initial plan was to live rough, in the manner of a tramp, a pilgrim, or a wandering scholar. However, a fortunate meeting in Bavaria opened doors that led to nights spent in grand castles, indulging in the hospitality of Europe's elite, providing a fascinating glimpse into the old world of princes and peasants.

A Time of Gifts celebrates both the coming-of-age of a young man and the soul of a continent teetering on the brink of imminent upheaval. Through Fermor's eyes, we witness the splendour of Europe's resplendent domes, monasteries, and grand cities, all against the backdrop of a continent soon to be transformed by war, modernisation, and societal change.

Hailed universally as a timeless classic, A Time of Gifts is not merely a travelogue but an enriching exploration and a passionate love letter to the continent's rich cultural heritage. Fermor immerses readers in architecture, art, genealogy, and history with an infectious enthusiasm that portrays his unique cultural awakening.

'[This] gloriously ornate account of that epic journey is a classic' – ROBERT MACFARLANE

'The feeling of being lost in time and geography with months and years hazily sparkling ahead is a prospect of inconjecturable magic.'

'Not only is this journey one of physical adventure but of cultural awakening. Architecture, art, genealogy, quirks of history and language are all devoured -- and here passed on -- with a gusto uniquely his' – COLIN THUBRON, SUNDAY TIMES

'One of the most romantic books of the twentieth century, Patrick Leigh Fermor's account of a long walk across Europe is also a literary treasure, a rich blend of action and observation' – GUARDIAN