Seven Years in Tibet (Cornerstone Editions) (Flamingo Modern Classics)

by Heinrich Harrer

Recounts how the author an Austrian, escaped from the English internment camp in India in 1943 and spent the next seven years in Tibet, observing its social practices, religion, politics, and people.

• ISBN10: 0874778883
• ISBN13: 9780874778885
• Publish Date: 11 January 2000 (first published 6 February 1970)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 November 2011
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Tarcher/Putnam,US
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 329
• Language: English

Reviews

[adamfortuna]

I've always been fascinated by Tibet – especially pre-takeover by China in the 1950s. Seven Years is an exploration into that coupled with a book on war (escaping it), travel, mountaineering and making friends along the way. It's quickly become one of my favorite books. While Heinrich the man is obviously shown in the best light in this book, it's hard to forget his background. He was a Nazi and husband who ran away from both to climb mountains in the Himalayas. Seven Years is in many ways the "Eat, Prey, Love" of the 50s – both with characters dashing off to adventures. In Harrer's case, he ate whatever he could find (or be given), pray to not be caught and dragged back to internment in India and fall in love with Tibet. In many ways Tibet is the main character and the cause for all good and bad within his time there.