The Valleys of the Assassins: and Other Persian TravelsHailed as a classic upon its first publication in 1934, The Valleys of the Assassins firmly established Freya Stark as one of her generation's most intrepid explorers. The book chronicles her travels into Luristan, the mountainous terrain nestled between Iraq and present-day Iran, often with only a single guide and on a shoestring budget. Stark writes engagingly of the nomadic peoples who inhabit the region's valleys and brings to life the stories of the ancient kingdoms of the Middle East, including that of the Lords of Alamut, a band of hashish-eating terrorists whose stronghold in the Elburz Mountains Stark was the first to document for the Royal Geographical Society. Her account is at once a highly readable travel narrative and a richly drawn, sympathetic portrait of a people told from their own compelling point of view. This edition includes a new Introduction by Jane Fletcher Geniesse, Stark's biographer. |
Contents
THE HIDDEN TREASURE 1932 | 43 |
A JOURNEY TO THE VALLEY OF THE ASSASSINS 1930 | 159 |
THE ASSASSINS CASTLE OF LAMIASAR 1931 | 190 |
THE THRONE OF SOLOMON 1931 | 205 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Alamut appeared asked Assassins Aziz beautiful began blue brought called carried castle climbed close coming cross dark descended east eyes face feeling feet felt followed four friendly friends gave give graves green half hand head hills horses Kalar keep Khan kind knew Kurds lady land leave less light lived looked Luristan Lurs matter morning mountain mules narrow never night pass path Persian plain pleasant police present reached ready returned ride ridge river road rocks rode round running seemed Shah Riza showed side slope soon stones stream tents things thought told took track treasure trees tribe turned valley village waiting walked wall women young