The author, Nick Hunt, set out in 2011 to walk from the Hook of Holland to the Golden Horn following the route Patrick Leigh Fermor walked in 1933 at the age of 18. This is a fascinating read even if you are not a walker. Nick Hunt basically walks across continental Europe retracing the steps of his predecessor some some 88 years later. “Paddy” walked before WWII and before the communist revolution. Nick walked after the fall of the USSR and the amalgamation of the European Union. Where Patrick stayed with Counts in their mansions, Nick found the ruins of these estates. With the help of the internet, the author met sympathetic souls who fed him, entertained him and put him up for a night or two along the way. Where there were gaps, Hunt slept in his tent in bitter cold and blistering heat. Humbled by his ability and his endurance, I empathized with the author at every step. Nick is not only an intrepid walker he is also a brilliant writer. Ladened with rich imagery, adventurous verbs and challenging concepts, this account is also a literary exercise and a must read.