'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
