"Between the Woods and the Water" continues Patrick Leigh Fermor's celebrated account of his journey from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople."

"In 1933, a young man of eighteen set out to walk across Europe living on a pound a week, staying in work-houses, monasteries and barns. A time of Gifts described the first part of this fascinating voyage. Here, between the woods of Transylvania and the waters of the Danube, Patrick Leigh Fermor encounters the remote peoples and cultures of Romania and Hungary and, unerringly and hauntingly, reconstructs a world of mountaints and plains, of castles and their inhabitants, where ancient ways were still intact, though troubled by omens of the disasters that, a few years later, were to destroy them utterly."

Sequel to A time of gifts, also travelling as international bookring. Please see also the linked journal for a description of the books.

"Like a tramp, a pilgrim, or a wandering scholar", an eighteen-year-old boy set out, one wet December day in 1933, to walk to Constantinople. This book covers his journey as far as Hungary."
This is a quote about the first book, and in this second volume, the author travels on to Constantinople. I haven't read it myself yet, though my own copy stays at home for that purpose ;o), so I don't know if you can read this book without having read the first.

The second volume has been written in the eighties. The author was working at a third volume. He passed away in June 2011, so I don't know if there ever will be more to come. about this voyage.

The first volume holds a special meaning for me personally, and I am very happy that the readers so far shared my joy and love for this outstanding work. I sincerely hope that this will continue with this volume, and that both books will find many more readers as well.

Note: the book itself is of good second-hand quality. The binding and the pages are intact and in a good state, with a crinkle on the very first page. It is a little dog-eared and yellowed, but since it's a copy from 1986 that is to be expected.

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This book is travelling as an International Bookring.

Thread to the German forum entry | Thread to the English forum entry
Please send me a PM if you want to participate.

Participants:
(for the moment, I'm taking the participant list from the first volume. It's going to be edited according to the confirmations I get.

1) abigailann (UK only)
2) ETMadrid", UK (would like to ship in Europe only)
3) bookmaniac70, Bulgaria (prefers to ship in Europe)
4) Colombina (Germany, sends international)
5) leamhliom, Ireland (ships anywhere)
7) minesayn, Ohio, USA (prefers to ship US/Canada)
8) kobie03 (Canada, ships everywhere)
9) penelopewanders Switzerland (ships in Europe only) [The two participants before have been left out to reasons yet unknown to me. As soon as I know more I'll update the list.]
10) timcorke UK (ships everywhere)
11) MyChildsCloset (can ship in the US only) (left out for the moment)
Since nobody else could be found who would to participate and part of this ring's voyage, for me, is getting the book back, it shall go back to me for the moment. Hopefully, a second round will come together at a later date and bring the book to the US again!
...
back to me <-- the book is here

Please note:
- Someone will PM you for your address, PM them back and provide your address
- When you receive the book, please make a journal entry letting everyone know that you received it
- Please try to finish it within one month
- When the end is in sight, check the book's journal and PM the next person to get their address
- Make another journal entry and let everyone know what you thought of the book
- Make a release note to let everyone know that it's in the mail
- Send the book to the next person on the list
- Last person: please let me know so I can search for new readers
If delayed make sure to let us know so that the ring will not stop.

I'd also like you to put your username and location on the inside of the back cover for this "travelling" book.

And off it goes to the first reader. Have fun!

Thanks for sending this to me. I have quite a few books to read at the moment, but I'll get to it as soon as I can.

Apologies, I thought I'd sent this on but just realised that hadn't. Contacting next person now.

I really enjoyed this exploration into another world- this time inter-war Hungary and the surrounding areas. Fermor's journey is punctuated by some amazing experiences, as well as essays on the history and customs of these regions. Whilst the age of this writing showed in places this was more than made up for by the content.
I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good travel-log.

Sent to next reader

It's here - thank you so much!

I've now finished this. Like the first volume, I found it slow-going, especially when it goes into intense detail about battles and kings and things that I know no matter how much attention I lend them, go in one ear and out the other with me! There are some very beautiful passages and I enjoyed listening to the Radio 4 Book of the Week readings of his biography last week (in which it said that the extent to which Patrick LF rode horseback through Transylvania was, by his own admission, developing his poetic licence). I'm disappointed to discover that we're never going to get to Constantinople with him as the last part, I'm told, was never written.

Posted today!

Received, thanks!

I have to apologise for the delay. A month slipped away in an instant and I couldn`t even begin reading this book. I`m so sorry, I shall try to speed things up!

I would say I enjoyed this volume even more than the first one. This time I met the writer as an old acquitance. Already accustomed to his beautiful and poetic style, I plunged into the delights of nature descriptions and encounters. I imagined vividly every scene and couldn`t stop marvelling at the hospitality and open-mindness of those small societies. I enjoyed once again the curious and inquiring spirit of the young traveller, amazingly conveying by fresh and unbiased writing 50 years later. My only disappointment was that he never wrote the third book, even more that he was about to enter Bulgarian territory and, as you may imagine, his impressions and observations would have been quite interesting to me.

I`m certainly becoming a fan of Patrick Leigh Fermor and am looking for more of his writings. I`m deeply obliged to Bookcrossing and in particular to Neckarhex for introducing me to this brilliant travel writer.

Sent by mail to Colombina.

Arrived about two days ago in Wuppertal, Germany, thank you very much! I enjoyed the first volume and I am looking forward to reading this continuation ...
... and, bookmaniac70, a huge thank you to you for the beautiful martenitsa bracelet, that was very kind of you :-)))!

A fascinating journey into parts of European culture and history I have learned so little about in school! I felt enriched but also often overwhelmed by the sheer number of facts.
I googled some images of the places he stayed and I really wish I could follow his trail, especially Hungary must be lovely, however, I am far less courageous than he is. And I am really astonished - I would have thought that travelling alone, whether on foot or on horseback, would have been much more dangerous back then ...
Thank you again, Neckarhex, for sharing this book with us!

I am very sorry for the delay in sending! I had been on a short holiday but now the book is travelling by mail to the next participant :-)!

Thank you so much for this book. I have just finished re-reading "A Time of Gifts" so this book arrived at just the right time. I love PLF.

Please read, enjoy this book and pass it on. Share the love of reading!

Please let me know if you've found this book on www.bookcrossing.com

Released to another bookcrosser as part of this book ring.

This has now arrived in the windy Alps where it has joined a few other rings and rays so will have to wait its turn. Holidays are on the horizon, so more reading time will come soon! Just have to get through the next ten days somehow! Thank you for sending.

Just to apologize for keeping this one so long. I'm leaving on holiday in two days and will take it with me to read there - and send from there. I've Pmed for the next address.

Continuation of the journey... a bit slow reading at times, but almost always quite fascinating. A real peek into another era.
I finished this a few days ago, and have been waiting for the next address. I still don't have it...

I did get the address, but with a question as to whether the next participant was really in the mood to read this or not. As I haven't heard back as to whether I should send or skip, I've decided to send it on and hopefully this will be a better fit than the first for him.
Now headed, after a journey to Mallorca and back, from Switzerland to the UK.
Enjoy!
Thanks so very much for making it available.

Released after passing to a few friends to read...I couldnt get on with it unfortunately.

The book is safely back home again. Thank you all for making its journey possible!