"News From Tartary" is a remarkable travelogue that chronicles the extraordinary journey of author Peter Fleming, the older brother of James Bond" author Ian Fleming, through the remote and enigmatic regions of Central Asia. His captivating narrative takes readers on an epic adventure along the ancient Silk Road, offering a rare glimpse into the landscapes, cultures, and people that inhabit this historically significant part of the world.

Fleming's writing is infused with a sense of adventure and curiosity, drawing readers into his quest to explore the unknown. From the moment he embarks on his daring expedition, the book brims with excitement, anticipation, and the allure of the uncharted. His descriptive prose captures the rugged beauty of the Central Asian landscapes, transporting readers across vast deserts, towering mountain ranges, and bustling bazaars, evoking a sense of both wonder and wanderlust.

One of the book's strengths lies in Fleming's ability to convey the essence of the places he visits and the people he encounters along the way. He skillfully weaves historical context, cultural observations, and personal anecdotes, creating a multidimensional narrative that immerses readers in the intricacies of Central Asian societies. From engaging with nomadic tribes to experiencing local customs and traditions, Fleming's encounters offer insights into the region's rich cultural tapestry, providing a valuable window into a world that is often shrouded in mystery.

"News From Tartary" also shines a light on the historical significance of the Silk Road and its impact on the region. Fleming's exploration of ancient cities and archaeological sites adds depth to the narrative, offering glimpses into the historical layers that have shaped Central Asia. Through his observations, readers gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural exchanges, trade routes, and geopolitical dynamics that once thrived along this renowned trade route.

While the book is a captivating account of Fleming's journey, it occasionally lacks a strong overarching structure. The narrative meanders at times, and some readers may find themselves longing for a more cohesive storyline or deeper exploration of certain themes. However, this loose structure also mirrors the unpredictable nature of travel itself, reinforcing the sense of spontaneity and discovery that permeates the book.

In conclusion, "News From Tartary" is an enthralling travelogue that embarks on a grand adventure through the heart of Central Asia. Fleming's vivid storytelling and evocative descriptions paint a vivid picture of a region steeped in history, culture, and untamed beauty. This book is recommended for travel enthusiasts, history aficionados, and those seeking an immersive literary journey along the fabled Silk Road. It serves as a testament to the enduring allure of exploration, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of experiencing the unknown.

A wonderfully observant, compassionate, humorous account of a 3500 mile, 7 month journey across central Asia in 1935 undertaken with little preparedness or expertise. It's one of the best works of travel writing I have read. THe original cloth bound version with all of the photos and maps is recommended. ( )

> COURRIER DE TARTARIE, par Peter Fleming. — C’est en 1935 que deux voyageurs (Ella Maillart et Peter Fleming) décident de tenter une traversée risquée dans des territoires peu connus : de Pékin, en Chine, au Cachemire, en Inde, à travers les déserts de l’Asie centrale. L’essentiel du récit se situe en Tartarie, qui désigne principalement le Turkestan chinois, ou Sinkiang (ou Xinjian). Principaux lieux traversés (en sept mois et six jours, 5600 kilomètres) : le Koko Nor (le lac du Démon), Cherchen, Khotan, les abords du Takla Makan, Yarkand, Kashgar, où « dormir dans un lit était devenu une coutume excentrique et distrayante », Gilgit, le Karakoram. Pour l’éditeur, Peter Fleming aurait « inventé le récit d’aventures distancié, où la stricte information et l’humour composent un cocktail parmi les plus toniques. » Et c’est vrai que l’on ne s’ennuie pas une seconde à la lecture de ce récit. Un voyage qui, sans passeports et dans des régions que la guerre civile dévastait, aurait pu ne pas avoir lieu. « Aucun de nous n’estimait nos chances d’aboutir à une sur vingt. » Et c’est pourquoi, tout au long du périple, nos deux voyageurs seront toujours entre deux chaises : les retards, ou autres tracasseries administratives, « une végétation susceptible de prospérer avec rapidité sur le sol de l’Asie », les « chances d’échec », n’empêchent pas « l’allégresse débordante », et le « hasard heureux » la « probabilité d’un succès ». La philosophie de base : « Arrivons d’abord et voyons ensuite ». La croyance qui forge tout : « J’ai la conviction superstitieuse que toute tentative invraisemblable, à condition d’être entreprise avec un minimum de sens commun et sur une échelle modeste, possède une sorte de droit divin à un hasard heureux répété à une cadence régulière. »
La caravane avance, « longue et circonspecte, avalant la distance comme une chenille mange une feuille. » Les étapes s’enchaînent. Courtes ou infiniment longues. Calmes ou tempétueuses. « La nuit tombait. Au dehors, le pays de fer se glaçait en silence sous la lune (…) Un loup hurlait. Une étoile tombait du ciel immense. Le campement dormait. » Manger, boire, dormir, et avancer. Telles étaient les leitmotiv, pour les hommes comme pour les bêtes. Il suffit de mettre un pied devant l’autre, dans un monde qui « à l’exception de la terre et de la mer, n’offre aucun contraste plus frappant que le désert et l’oasis. » Considéré à juste titre comme un classique, Courrier de Tartarie est, selon l’auteur, « une randonnée couronnée d’un succès immérité ». Tant mieux, ça nous fait de la lecture, et de la grande. Il ne reste plus qu’à lire également Oasis interdites, d’Ella MAILLART (Kini, dans le récit de Fleming), autre version du même voyage.
—Lionel Bedin, Moncelon.com

Interesting read. For the people of Xinjiang, it is quiet the what if: if the USSR made the region into an SSR in the 1930s, it might have ultimately become a free nation today. Sobering news for those reading the reports out of Kashgar these days. Fleming writes with a good sense of humor, although not much happens in their journey (bureaucracy was the greatest threat to their success). Worth a read if you are interested in Central Asia or China during the Civil War. ( )

"Kini's acute sense of smell I have mentioned as a handicap in travel; but here it stood us in good stead. She went out to have a look at the surviving camels and caught a whiff of rotting flesh; it came from the Prime Minister's camel, originally christened The Pearl of the Tsaidam and now known as The Pearl for short. Kini brought him into camp and we took his packsaddle off; on the spine between the humps an ancient sore under the skin had reopened and was festering fast. We pegged his head down and with little help from the Turkis, who were hopeless with animals, Kini doctored it despite his bellows. It looked a terrible place, but she made such a good job of it that it healed completely within a few days."

Do not be led by the star rating. There is a reason for the three stars, but on no accounts do 3 stars mean that this book is not worth your time.

News from Tartary is a great book. Peter Fleming had a marvellous ability to write. This report of his travel from Beijing across China and into India via Kashmir is a fantastic account of what it was like for a European to set out on a trip that very few people had accomplished before and that few adventurers have managed to describe to a Western readership since the days of Marco Polo.

When Fleming set out on his trip in 1935, he soon had to abandon his plans of travelling alone. Because of the political upheaval in China at the time - Japanese invasion of Manchuria, the rise of the Communist army - roads were blocked and warrants issued for anyone who did not have the right papers, the right connections, or the right demeanor. It was at this point that Fleming joined forces with Ella ("Kini") Maillart, a Swiss traveller and writer, who had also planned to follow the Silk Road across China - by herself.

Neither of them wanted to join forces, but the alternative for both would have been to abandon the trip. Together, they could produce enough languages, life skills, money, and passports/visa to at least leave Beijing - and try and by-pass the official control posts. Maillart also wrote an account of this trip in her book Forbidden Journey , but unlike Fleming her outlook on the trip and the content of her observations are quite different.

When reading News from Tartary, I probably learned more about Fleming than about the people he meets and the countries he passes through. It is also good to remember that when Fleming set out on his trip, he worked as a political correspondent for The Times, and much of Fleming's interests in the book focus on the political and military situation in China. For example, Fleming goes into quite some detail about the political leaders he meets, and troop movements he observes. As it turns out, however, his enthusiasm for political analysis may not have made up for a lack of expertise or indeed a lack of understanding of Chinese culture and society.

And this is really the crux of my hesitation to rate this book any higher: Fleming tried hard to transcend the stifled English attitude and open up to experience this different world that he threw himself into, but he never really manages to fully do this. As a result, the book reads like a boy's own adventure story - which it is, of course - but which could have been so much more in that his preoccupation with the British perspective seems to have blinded him to the marvels and wonders of the people and landscape he took so much trouble to encounter. ( )