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

by Heinrich Harrer

Richard Graves (Translator)

A film tie-in edition to the new film starring Brad Pitt and directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud of one of the greatest and most enduring travel accounts of the twentieth century.

Heinrich Harrer, already a famous mountaineer and Olympic ski champion, was caught by the outbreak of the Second World War while climbing in the Himalayas. Being an Austrian, he was interned in India. By an almost super-human effort, and on his third attempt, he succeeded in escaping from the internment camp and fled into Tibet.

After a series of remarkable experiences in a country never crossed before by a Westerner, Harrer reached the forbidden city of Lhasa. He stayed there for seven years, learned the language and acquired a greater understanding of Tibet and the Tibetans than any Westerner had ever before achieved. He became the friend and tutor of the young Dalai Lama and finally accompanied him into India when he was put to flight by the Red Chinese invasion.

• ISBN10: 0006550924
• ISBN13: 9780006550921
• Publish Date: 1 December 1997 (first published 6 February 1970)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 21 October 2004
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Flamingo
• Edition: Film tie-in edition
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

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.