''Nothing short of a masterpiece'' JAN MORRIS
''[This] gloriously ornate account of that epic journey is a classic'' ROBERT MACFARLANE
''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
In 1933, at the age of 18, Patrick Leigh Fermor set out on an extraordinary journey by foot - from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople. A Time of Gifts is the first volume in a trilogy recounting the trip, and takes the reader with him as far as Hungary.
It is a book of compelling glimpses - not only of the events which were curdling Eu
