Acclaimed journalist Bernard Ollivier begins his epic journey on foot across the Silk Road. Upon retirement at the age of sixty-two, and grieving his deceased wife, renowned journalist Bernard Ollivier felt a sense of profound emptiness: What do I do now? While some see retirement as a chance to cash in their chips and settle into a comfy armchair, Ollivier still longed for more. Searching for … more. Searching for inspiration, he strapped on his gear, donned his hat, and headed out the front door to hike the Way of St. James, a 1400-mile journey from Paris to Compostela, Spain. At the end of that road, with more questions than answers, he decided to spend the next few years hiking another of history’s great routes: the Silk Road.
Out of Istanbul is Ollivier’s stunning account of the first part of that 7,200-mile journey. The longest and perhaps most mythical trade route of all time, the Silk Road is in fact a network of routes across Europe and Asia, some going back to prehistoric times. During the Middle Ages, the transcribed travelogue of one Silk Road explorer, Marco Polo, helped spread the fame of the Orient throughout Europe.
Heading east out of Istanbul, Ollivier takes readers step by step across Anatolia and Kurdistan, bound for Tehran. Along the way, we meet a colorful array of real-life characters: Selim, the philosophical woodsman; old Behçet, elated to practice English after years of self-study; Krishna, manager of the Lora Pansiyon in Polonez, a village of Polish immigrants; the hospitable Kurdish women of Dogutepe, and many more. We accompany Ollivier as he explores bazaars, mosques, and caravansaries—true vestiges of the Silk Road itself—and through these encounters and experiences, gains insight into the complex political and social issues facing modern-day Turkey.
Ollivier’s journey, far from bragging about some tremendous achievement, humbly takes the reader on a colossal adventure of human proportions, one in which walking itself, through a kind of alchemy, fosters friendships and fellowship.
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One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Informative, descriptive, unpredictable, unforgettable characters. Enjoyed this book so much, I bought book #2 and book #3!
This book is an interesting account of the author’s travel on foot across Turkey, and the many kind people he met along the way – along with some not-so-kind people. I love learning about far-away countries, their people, customs, and religions. I follow along with maps which enriches my reading experience.
Thoroughly enjoyed Bernard Ollivier’s trilogy about his walking the Silk Road from Istanbul to Xian China. Full of adventure, and descriptions fo third world living conditions. Incidents range from incredible act of kindness and hostility bordering at times on the possible severe injury or death.
As a bit of an adventurer myself but on traveling via motorcycle throughSouthern Africa and Latin/South America I understand his adventure. But I cannot phantom walking 12,000 km anywhere much less through the dangerous Middle East and Central Asia.
Though Ollivier’s walk in this book comes to an end, it continues to evoke images and prod the reader’s wonderings long after it has been set aside, such is the author’s unrelenting candor and bent for description. In the end, it is not a solitary journey you read about, but one in which the reader is with him every step of the way.
Of course I really couldn’t leave the guy with only part of his journey complete. I immediately had to get the other two books, “Walking to Samarkand” and “Winds of the Steppe.” I found that it also helps while reading these books to pull up Google Earth/Google Maps.
This is the first book of a trilogy of the author’s great plan to walk the entire Silk Road from Istanbul to X’ian, a distance of over 7500 miles i four installments over four years. What an adventure!
I had difficulty putting this book down. The author’s adventures walking the Silk Road was fascinating. I have read the second book in the series and look forward to the third phase of the journey. I know so little about the history of near east. I highly recommend this book and the sequels.
This was one of the best travel books I’ve ever read. I felt as if I were walking with the author, sore feet, inclement conditions and the risks of being ambushed or robbed. I wish I could walk a mile with this author.
Irene Gordon
Liked everything about it. Can’t think of anything worth criticising.. Well written by an experienced French journalist, I found it especially engaging from the start of the author’s epic walk to his forced media’s flight home to France.
This is a travelogue on the silk road that is introspective of the travelor and a history of the tegions. It is enthralling.
If you are a curious reader like I am and like the author certainly is, you will love this book. First I read Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres who creates characters you care about in times of war for the Ottoman Empire. I started Bernard Oliver’s book Out of Istanbul almost immediately about his walking on the historic Silk Road. The Frenchman takes me with him into the country of Turkey where I meet my old friends in Anatolia, their villages, their struggle and why being a soldier comes before all else.
. very good book. Informative
Fascinating Story! I learned so much about the Middle East and its present day people as well as historical moments and battles.
If you want to learn about cultures you’ll never visit, read this series of books!
This was an interesting book about a different culture and test of the author’s stamina to hike the Silk Road and the people he met.
It was so interesting to read about the author’s walk through a part of the world most of us know little about and will never experience. Great descriptions of the unusual and intriguing people he met along the way.