A Time of Gifts cover art

A Time of Gifts

On Foot to Constantinople: from the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube

 Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Time of Gifts

By: Patrick Leigh Fermor
Narrated by: Crispin Redman
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $31.86

Buy Now for $31.86

About this listen

 In 1933, at the age of 18, Patrick Leigh Fermor set out on an extraordinary journey by foot - from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople. A Time of Gifts is the first volume in a trilogy recounting the trip, and takes the reader with him as far as Hungary.

It is a book of compelling glimpses - not only of the events which were curdling Europe at that time, but also of its resplendent domes and monasteries, its great rivers, the sun on the Bavarian snow, the storks and frogs, the hospitable burgomasters who welcomed him, and that world's grandeurs and courtesies. His powers of recollection have astonishing sweep and verve, and the scope is majestic.

(P)2014 Hodder & Stoughton©1977 The Estate of Patrick Leigh Fermor Adventure Travel

Critic Reviews

[Fermor's] gloriously ornate account of that epic journey is a classic of what we might call the 'literature of the leg'
All stars
Most relevant
This is potentially an intriguing story set at a unique time in Europe’s history in the 1930s. I am puzzled by what audience he had in mind when he wrote the tome. He uses a rule that in using words or describing anything , make it as complicated and clever sounding as possible. So clever in fact the majority of well read and vocabulary rich readers, prior to losing patience, will be googling away or referring to their dictionaries after every page. He becomes tedious after few chapters and his self referential erudition so wearing and obvious , he destroys any enthusiasm you might have had for his narrative.

A time of gifts. Patrick Fermor

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.