Helena Drysdale

Reviews

Alone through China and Tibet,

published by Constable 1986, Ulverscroft 1988 (illustrated)

Alone Through Tibet And China
 'Here's a new, young and highly accomplished travel writer. She mixes a good eye for detail of life in the new China with a strong sense of her own personality. Characteristically she undervalues herself, but emerges as strong, resourceful. Her account of the sky burial, the ancient Tibetan ritual of literally chopping up corpses for the birds, is harrowing but respectful. Here's one traveller with whom I look forward to sharing many more vicarious trips.'
Bill Greenwell, New Statesman

'In a sentence that will, I suspect, be much quoted, Helena Drysdale says, "I never meant to go to China." Anyone who has a desire to see something of China, but for one reason or another is not drawn to the packaged tour, might gain great inspiration from Miss Drysdale's account.'
'Sunday Telegraph

'What guts! And what brilliant powers of description! Poetic prose is perhaps the only phrase with which to do it justice. From her pen comes a delicately brilliant word-picture.'
Catholic Herald

'In the steady torrent of material about China, Helena Drysdale's book is a breath of fresh air. Her book takes you by the hand into this fairytale country. I liked the candour. Her honesty even runs to admitting some tender thoughts for a loved one, which provides the basis for a fittingly dramatic ending to this absorbing tale.'
Globe

'Alone through China and Tibet successfully captures the sense of change which is moving through China, but Helena Drysdale has kept her feet very much on solid ground and by her book has demonstrated the enormous diversity of human life. A fascinating book, full of detail and insights into the nature of the people Helena Drysdale met on her travels.'
Western Morning News

'Accounts of other people's travels can make heavy, rather stale reading. But this book, in contrast, is lively and gripping.'
East Anglian Daily Times

'Fascinating...left me itching to travel...a perfect gift for a potential traveller or an armchair adventurer.'
What's On

'The story of her journey makes fascinating reading not just as a travelogue but a personal account, almost a diary of her experiences, the places she saw, and the people she met.'
Aberdeen Evening Express



© Helena Drysdale 2006
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