Customer Reviews
a lyrical treat - By: El Sushi Supremo, 06 May 2007 
I read this on the strength of Marsden's other book: "The Crossing Place", he seems to have a knack for writing books about countries I'm slightly obsessed with. I hate to get bogged downin cliches but this is another modern classic. Within any travel book there needs to be a sound motivation for the journey, without this central motivation it often seems like somebody is just writing a book for money, or doing something to please a publisher. All my cynicism was left behind as I followed Marsden & his numerous guides through both the difficult topography & turbulent history of Ethiopia. I recommend this book to casual readersin search of some escape or serious students of history & theology. The strong point of the book is that he undertakes the journey on foot so we get highly lyrical descriptions, written from someone who has had alot of time to compose their thoughts & takein surroundings.
There has been little written about Ethiopia & it is still tarred with images from news footage of famines. Marsden offers us a new reflection on a truly unique place, uniquein culture, customs &in it's general isolation from the West & the rest. If you intend on learning more about this quirky corner of Africa I recommend reading both "The Emperor" & "The Pale Abyssinian".
Get into the heart of Ethiopia - By: Andrew Farrow, 19 Apr 2006 
Philip Marsden returns to Ethiopiain 2003, having been entranced by the country during a short visitin 1982. This time he hires a guide & a succession of mules to walk across the north. He explores churches, meets a variety of monks & discusses Ethiopian history. You have to admire his courage & persistence as he sweats & climbs with his mules through the mountains - why doesn't he catch a bus? But he makes it all the way to his final destination without a vehicle, & gives a real insight into the country. In the beginning he writes "if there is any purpose to our time on earth, it is to understand it...to celebrate its heroes & its wonders -in short, to witness it". Witness it he does. Through his book I've gained an understanding of Ethiopia. And now I'd love to go there. What greater vindication of the success of a travel book could you want?
A Triumph! - By: , 26 Feb 2006 Philip Marsden is without doubt the most important & erudite writer concerned with Africa today. This book will change the way you think.
