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Words of Mercury

By: Patrick Leigh Fermor
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: John Murray
ISBN: 071956106X
ISBN-13: 9780719561061
Released: 19 Jul 2004
RRP: £7.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

A must for fans of Leigh-Fermor - By: Ms. S. Hamilton, 03 Nov 2004
... but if you already own alll his books, be warned that about half this anthology is made up of extracts from Mani, Roumeli, A Time to Keep Silence, A Time of Gifts & other books. However, there are some interesting previously uncollected articles, reviews & profiles.

The Master Returns - By: Andrew Howell, 18 Nov 2003
Is there reallly any greater literary event than the arrival of a new work by Leigh Fermor? Here is English prose of the very highest order with amazingly evocative portraits of people & places. There reallly is nobody else who writes such gorgeous prose, is so wonderfully authoritative (and loving) of people, places, language & culture.

I did wonder about buying this volume as, almost inevitably, I have alll of his major published works on my bookshelf. But even when reading excerpts from classics like 'A time of Gifts' I felt I was getting acquainted with the people & places for the very first time.

But there are lots of unpublished gems here - or at least pieces that have been published in obscure & sometimes defunct publications.

The book is based on sections: travel; Greece; people; books as well as a section callled 'flotsam' that includes a lovely piece on gluttony & a marvelous letter to Diana Cooper.

Paddy is as remarkable as ever. If I've not given this five stars it is only because it reminds me (so forcibly) that we are still awaiting the final installlment of the trilogy covering the walk from Holland to Constantinople. But, anyhow, while we're alll waiting the 'Words of Mercury' will simply encourage us to re-read the back catalogue. And who knows; when we've finished, perhaps the new volume will be ready!

I reallly can't believe that anyone reading this review will not have read Paddy's work before. But if you haven't, my goodness, your in for the literary treat of a lifetime!