News from Tartary - An Epic Journey Across Central Asia (1936; re-ed. 2014) [THE PETER FLEMING COLLECTION]

News from Tartary is the account of a journey from Peking to Kashmir, made in 1935 by that legendary adventurer, Peter Fleming. It lasted seven months and covered about 3,500 miles. The route chosen by Fleming and his companion, adventurer and writer Ella Maillart, took them westwards across a China torn by civil war to Xinjiang and then south to British India. It had been eight years since any foreigner had crossed Xinjiang. During that time few of those who entered that inhospitable and politically volatile region, which was under the control of a warlord supported by Stalin's Red Army, came out alive. After entering the lands of the Tartars by a little-known route and following the course of the ancient Silk Road, they reached Kashgar before crossing the Pamirs into India. Written with style and elegance, as well as acute observation and gentle irony, this is not just a description of a part of the world still difficult to visit, but of the last days of the Great Game, when Britain and Russia vied with each other for control of the unruly fiefs of Central Asia. News from Tartary describes a phenomenally successful attempt that legendary adventurer, Peter Fleming made to travel overland from Peking to Kashmir. The journey took seven months and covered about 3,500 miles. With his companion, adventurer and writer, Ella Maillart, they set out across a China torn by civil war to journey through Xinjiang to British India. It had been eight years since anyone had crossed Xinjiang; in between those who had entered this inhospitable and politically volatile area - under the control of a warlord supported by Stalin's Red Army - seldom left alive. Entering the province by a little known route and following the path of the Silk Road, they ended up in Kashgar before crossing the Pamirs to India. Beautifully written and superbly observed, this is not simply an account of a part of the world few of us will ever see, but also a marvellous insight into the last days of the Great Game, when Britain and Russia still faced each other across a Central Asia in a state of anarchy. "Account of a journey that Peter Fleming made overland from Peking to Kashmir. The journey took seven months and covered about 3,500 miles. With his companion, adventurer and writer, Ella Maillart, they set out across a China torn by civil war to journey through Xinjiang to British India. It had been eight years since anyone had crossed Xinjiang; in between those who had entered this inhospitable and politically volatile area - under the control of a warlord supported by Stalin's Red Army - seldom left alive. Entering the province by a little known route and following the path of the Silk Road, they ended up in Kashgar before crossing the Pamirs to India. ... this is not simply an account of a part of the world few of us will ever see, but also a marvellous insight into the last days of the Great Game, when Britain and Russia still faced each other across a Central Asia in a state of anarchy"--Publisher's description It took seven months and covered about 3,500 miles and motivated largely by curiosity, Peter Fleming set out with his companion Ella Maillart across a China torn by civil war to journey through Xinjiang to British India. It had been eight years since anyone had crossed Xinjiang; in between those who had entered this inhospitable and politically volatile area -- under the control of a warlord supported by Stalin's Red Army -- seldom left alive. Entering the province by a little known route and following the path of the Silk Road, they ended up in Kashgar before crossing the Pamirs to India. Beautifully written and superbly observed, this is not simply an account of a part of the world few of us will ever see, but also a marvellous insight into the last days of the Great Game, when Britain and Russia still faced each other across a Central Asia in a state of anarchy List of IllustrationsPrefacePart One: Heading for TroublePart Two: The Skin of Our TeethPart Three: Into the BluePart Four: No Man's LandPart Five: No PicnicPart Six: The Desert RoadPart Seven: The Roof of the World NotesIndex 'News from Tartary' is the story of a 3500 mile trip across China from Peking, through the mysterious province of Sinkiang, to India. It is one of the most difficult trips that could have been made in the 1930s, or even today