Mirror To Damascus

50th Anniversary Edition

Colin Thubron

$32.99

Paperback

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English

Vintage
02 February 2009

Travel & holiday; Travel writing; Places & peoples: pictorial works

A 50th anniversary edition of Colin Thubron's celebrated first book, a portrait of Syria's capital city, with a new introduction by the author

A 50th anniversary edition of Colin Thubron's celebrated first book, a portrait of Syria's capital city, with a new introduction by the author.

Described by the author as simply 'a work of love', Mirror to Damascus provides a rich and fascinating history of Damascus from the Amorites of the Bible to the revolution of 1966, and is also a charming and witty personal record of an extraordinary city.

In explaining how modern Damascus is rooted in immemorial layers of culture and tradition, Colin Thubron explores the historical, artistic, social and religious inheritance of its people. Along the way, he shares unforgettable stories about the enterprising travellers of bygone days.

Mirror to Damascus is a unique portrait of a city now obscured by recent upheavals, by one of the most indefatigable and popular of travel writers.

By: Colin Thubron
Imprint: Vintage
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 197mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 23mm
Weight: 261g
ISBN: 9780099532293
ISBN 10: 0099532298
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 02 February 2009
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Colin Thubron is the master of classic travel writing, and a previous winner of the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award. His first writing was about the Middle East - Damascus, Lebanon and Cyprus. In 1982 he travelled all over Russia in an ancient Morris Marina - pursued at every stage by the KGB. From these early experiences developed his travel books: Among the Russians, Behind the Wall, The Lost Heart of Asia and In Siberia (all available in Vintage). So great is his dedication to travelling in Russia and China, that he has learned Russian and Mandarin in order to be able to speak to ordinary people en route.

Reviews for Mirror To Damascus: 50th Anniversary Edition

Colin Thubron writes in a classical style of grave beauty, with an intense feeling for place and people New York Times One of the most subtly beautiful books about a city I have ever read -- Jan Morris From the earliest legend to the latest coup, Mirror to Damascus reflects every discoverable facet of the city... a quite exceptional travel writer Daily Telegraph One of the great merits of Mr Thubron's admirable book is that he balances this tribute to a place of which he is clearly very fond with the harsh facts of history... he was always moved by the best motives - curiosity and affection The Times Mr Thubron is a man of singular enterprise, and a writer of remarkable distinction. Surely Damascus was never sacked to better purpose Observer