Items related to Road to Samarcand
This stand-alone adventure from the mighty Patrick O'Brian begins just where his devoted fans would want it to: with a sloop in the South China Sea barely surviving a killer typhoon. But the time is the 1930s and the protagonist a teenaged American boy whose missionary parents have just died. In the company of his rough, seafaring uncle and his elderly English cousin, an eminent archaeologist, young Derrick sets off in search of ancient treasures in central Asia.
Along the way, they encounter a charismatic Chinese bandit and a host of bad characters, including Russian agents fomenting unrest. The tale ends in an ice-bound valley with the party caught between hostile Red-Hat monks and the Great Silent Ones, which is how the Tibetans designate the yeti.
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About the Author:
PATRICK O'BRIAN (1914-2000) was born Richard Patrick Russ in England. During World War II, he and his wife were involved in British secret-service activities. After the war he changed his name to Patrick O'Brian. He began his career as a novelist, biographer, and translator. Starting in the 1990s, Mr. O'Brian, then in his seventies, achieved the critical and popular recognition that was his due.
From Publishers Weekly:
This stand-alone adventure novel from O'Brian (1914–2000) saw British publication in 1954, before the Aubrey/Maturin historicals that made his name. In the years before WWII, the teenage Derrick, orphaned by his missionary parents, sails the China seas aboard the schooner Wanderer with his American uncle Terrence Sullivan (who is the captain), his elderly English cousin Ayrton (a professor of archeology) and Sullivan's business partner, Mr. Ross. Ayrton wants Derrick to leave the sea and attend school, but first they'll all embark on an archeological expedition to Samarcand (in what is now Uzbekistan). Marauding rebels capture Ross and Sullivan early on, and Ayrton (the most intriguing of the adult characters) pretends to be a Russian weapons expert to free them. Earthy, sly humor keeps the action set pieces perking along: frigid temperatures, militaristic Tibetan monks and even the Abominable Snowman await. Six decades later, O'Brian's richly told adventure saga, with its muscular prose, supple dialogue and engaging characters, packs a nice old-school punch. (July)
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Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherWhite Lion Publrs.
- Publication date1976
- ISBN 10 0727400614
- ISBN 13 9780727400611
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages256
- Rating
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The Road to Samarcand
Published by
White Lion
(1976)
ISBN 10: 0727400614
ISBN 13: 9780727400611
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
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Rating
Book Description Hard Cover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. VERY POSSIBLY A U K 1ST EDITION -You are going to have trust us on this one - P O'Brians second book WITHOUT the Publishers page-but this is a lovely clean crisp copy which may well have been ex library but there are NO stamps, £3.25 net on inside dj-this will add to your collection if you can accept No printing page - a Very scarce book-IMMEDIATE DESPATCH FROM UK 6 DAYS A WEEK Size: 48mo - over 3" - 4" tall 0.0. Seller Inventory # 6087
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