A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush documents Eric Newby's 1956 expedition to Afghanistan's Nuristan region, where he attempted to climb Mir Samir. The journey marked his transition from London fashion industry professional to adventure travel writer. The narrative follows Newby and his companion Hugh Carless from London through Turkey and Persia to the remote Panjshir Valley. Along the way, Newby undertakes a brief mountaineering course in Wales to prepare for the challenging terrain ahead. The book captures their encounters with local inhabitants, physical hardships, and cultural observations as they navigate the harsh mountain landscape. Newby's characteristic British humor emerges through his interactions with Carless and his attempts to communicate using an outdated language guide. This pioneering work of travel literature examines the tension between amateur enthusiasm and serious expedition, while capturing a moment in time when parts of Afghanistan remained largely unexplored by Westerners.

Readers appreciate the self-deprecating British humor and Newby's honest portrayal of his amateur mountaineering attempts. Many note the contrast between his inexperience and the serious nature of the expedition. Reviewers frequently quote the book's witty observations and dry commentary on travel mishaps. What readers liked: - Cultural observations of 1950s Afghanistan - Blend of humor and adventure - Friendship dynamic between Newby and Hugh Carless - Vivid descriptions of landscapes and local characters What readers disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Dense geographic details - Some dated cultural attitudes - Abrupt ending Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (280+ ratings) Reader comment examples: "Like traveling with a funny friend who's completely out of his depth" - Goodreads "Too much detail about rock formations and mountain paths" - Amazon "The humor saves what could have been a very dry travelogue" - LibraryThing

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🏔️ The book is considered a cornerstone of travel writing, inspiring generations of adventure writers including Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux. 🗺️ Nuristan, the region explored in the book, was known as Kafiristan until 1896, and was one of the last places in Afghanistan to convert to Islam. 👔 Before his adventure, Eric Newby was the creative director of John Lewis department store and worked as a fashion buyer in London's haute couture industry. 📖 The famous travel writer Wilfred Thesiger makes a cameo in the book, memorably commenting on Newby and Carless inflating their air mattresses: "You must be a couple of pansies." 🎬 In 2016, the British adventurer Levison Wood recreated Newby's journey for the documentary series "Walking the Himalayas," bringing renewed attention to the original expedition.