The Road to Oxiana
The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron, published by Penguin Adult on July 5, 2007, is a first edition that spans 341 pages. This book chronicles Byron’s 1933 journey through the Middle East, covering significant locations such as Beirut, Jerusalem, Baghdad, and Teheran, ultimately leading to Oxiana, the ancient region along the Amu Darya river. It serves as both a travelogue and a historical account, capturing the architectural wonders of a region that is now largely inaccessible to Western travelers.
Readers will find a detailed narrative that not only documents Byron’s adventures but also provides insights into the cultural and historical significance of the areas he explored. The book delves into themes of travel and exploration, offering a unique perspective on the landscapes and experiences of the Middle East during the early 20th century. With its blend of travel writing and personal reflection, The Road to Oxiana stands as a notable contribution to the genre, appealing to those interested in travel essays and the history of the region.
Official synopsis Publisher
A real-life adventure that inspired countless travellers in fact and fiction, the Penguin Classics edition of Robert Byron’s The Road to Oxiana includes an introduction by Colin Thubron.
In 1933 Robert Byron began a journey through the Middle East via Beirut, Jerusalem, Baghdad, and Teheran to Oxiana – the country of the Oxus, the ancient name for the river Amu Darya which forms part of the border between Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. The Road to Oxiana offers not only a wonderful record of his adventures, but also a rare account of the architectural treasures of a region now inaccessible to most Western travelers.
Robert Byron (1905-41) was born in 1905, and educated at Eton and Merton College, Oxford. He died during the Second World War, when the ship he was serving on was torpedoed by a U-Boat off Cape Wrath. Byron’s The Road to Oxiana is considered by many modern travel writers to be the first example of great travel writing.
If you enjoyed The Road to Oxiana you might like Charles Darwin’s The Voyage of the Beagle, also available in Penguin Classics.
‘The greatest of all pre-war travel books’
William Dalrymple
‘What Ulysses is to the novel between the wars, and what ‘The Waste Land’ is to poetry, The Road to Oxiana is to the travel book’
Paul Fussell
‘In any list of the great travel books of the 20th century, Robert Byron’s account of his travels in Persia and Afghanistan, The Road to Oxiana, must be put somewhere near the very top’
Telegraph
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “The Road to Oxiana” about?
Who is the author of “The Road to Oxiana”?
When was “The Road to Oxiana” published?
What is the ISBN for “The Road to Oxiana”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
