'The English language is still a superb instrument in the hands of a writer who has a virtuoso skill with words, a robust aesthetic passion, an indomitable curiosity and a rapturous historical imagination' -- Observer 'The genius of Patrick Leigh Fermor is a many splendoured thing. Soldier, traveller, writer, Phihellene ! he has already dazzled and delighted ! It is some time since more truth and beauty were distilled into a hundred pages' -- Stewart Perowne 'A brilliant book' -- Sunday Times 'Delightful ! His book is not only an admirable piece of travel writing; it is also a brilliant piece of human exploration' -- New Statesman 'Introspection, history, reportage have their balanced places in a well-written book ! measured and lucent' -- Sunday Times 'Patrick Leigh Fermor is a stylish, superb master of words, which he savours like the choicest vintage' -- The Times 'What a delight it is to read a book so beautifully and sensitively written' -- Observer 'A most successful attempt to portray the reactions of the man of the world (in the literal sense) when confronted with the monastic life' -- Daily Telegraph 'Delightful, lucidly written work of introspection that evokes the hardship and the rewards of the solitary life, as well as its beauty' -- The Glasgow Herald 20040228 'John Murray is doing the decent thing and reissuing all of Leigh Fermor's main books ... But what else would you expect from a publisher whose commitment to geography is such that for more than two centuries it has widened our understanding of the world?' -- Geographical Magazine 20040801 'A pleasure and an instruction to read' -- Irish Times 20040801 'Bringing the landscape alive as no other writer can, he uses his profound and eclectic understanding of cultures and peoples ... to paint vivid pictures - nobody has illuminated the geography of Europe better' -- Geographical Magazine 20040801